MedFest Egypt Unveils Star-Studded Jury for Short Film Competition, Led by Ex-Berlin Film Festival Chief

The management of MedFest Egypt has announced the members of the jury for the official short film competition of 2025, headed by Mariette Rissenbeek, the former director of the Berlin International Film Festival.

The jury includes Egyptian director Sameh Alaa, winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his 2020 short film “I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face”, and actress Yousra El Lozy, jury member of the Horizons of Arab Cinema Competition at the 42nd Cairo International Film Festival, and winner of Best Actress awards at the Cairo, Alexandria, and Carthage International Film Festivals.

Also joining the jury is director Marwan Omara, who headed the short film competition at the 43rd Cairo International Film Festival and currently serves as the Director of the Filmmaking Program at Coventry Cairo.

In addition, the jury includes Dr. Olfat Allam, a consultant psychologist who has provided psychological consultations for several international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF.

Recently, MedFest Egypt also announced the jury for the “From Script to Screen” Grant, an initiative supporting short filmmakers in the development, production, post-production, and distribution stages of their projects. Valued at 1,150,000 EGP (in-kind), the jury features film critic Andrew Mohsen, producer Sawsan Youssef, and director Heba Yousry.

Dr. Mina El-Naggar, founder and director of MedFest Egypt, stated:

“In its seventh edition this year, MedFest continues to highlight the health and psychological dimensions of cinema and their positive impact on society, by selecting films that reflect human issues connected to mental and physical health. This year, the official competition features 31 films from 15 countries, alongside 10 films outside the competitive section.”

He added:

“In forming the official jury, we were keen to bring together diverse expertise spanning both medicine and the arts, reaffirming MedFest EG’s unique identity in spotlighting mental health issues through cinema, creating space for sensitive medical and psychological topics, and raising public awareness. The theme of this year’s edition, ‘Transitions’, emphasizes that the turning points in our lives affect our wellbeing—something that the arts can express in various forms.”

For Mariette Rissenbeek, Head of the MedFest EG Jury, participating in this year’s edition is “an exciting experience,” particularly because she fell in love with the idea of having a multi-day artistic event dedicated to discussing medical and psychological aspects in film. She affirmed that heading the official competition jury is “an honour,” expressing her anticipation of watching the competing films, exploring the visions they present, and discussing them with fellow jurors, adding that she looks forward to her MedFest EG experience with great enthusiasm.

The 7th edition of MedFest Egypt, held under the theme “Transitions”, will take place at the American University in Cairo – Tahrir Square, from September 17 to 21.

First launched in 2017, MedFest Egypt has grown into an annual event bringing together filmmakers, doctors, mental health professionals, and audiences in a unique experience that merges art and health through film screenings from Egypt and around the world, panel discussions, masterclasses, and workshops. Its mission is to raise awareness of mental health, highlight cinema’s role in portraying human challenges, and foster dialogue within society.