Kinda Alloush to Be Honoured at Aswan Women’s Film Festival in May

The Aswan International Women’s Film Festival will honour acclaimed Syrian actress Kinda Alloush during its ninth edition, which runs from May 2nd to the 7th, 2025. Organisers announced that this year’s edition will also pay tribute to Egyptian music legend Umm Kulthum, commemorating 50 years since her passing with a theme dedicated to her enduring cultural impact.

Alloush is being recognised for her powerful performances in films that reflect the complexities of women’s experiences in the Arab world. Her career includes major roles in Egyptian and Syrian cinema, such as Hatem Ali’s ‘Shaghaf’ and Sherif Arafa’s ‘Welad El Am’, both noted for their explorations of gender and societal dynamics.

More recently, Alloush starred in Suhaib Gasmelbari’s internationally acclaimed film ‘Nuzuh’, which won the Audience Award at the Venice International Film Festival. She also appeared in the Netflix-backed feature ‘The Swimmers’, directed by BAFTA-nominated Welsh-Egyptian filmmaker Sally El-Hosaini. The film was screened at major international festivals including Toronto, London, and Cairo.

Her work in Egyptian cinema includes prominent roles in ‘Hepta’, ‘Al-Fagoumi’, and ‘Al-Asliyeen’, while on television she has featured in several popular Ramadan dramas such as ‘Ekhwati’ and ‘Setat Beit El Maadi’.

Organised with the support of Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Aswan International Women’s Film Festival continues to spotlight female-driven narratives. The festival is also backed by the National Council for Women and the Aswan Governorate.