MedFest Egypt celebrates the contributions of artists and medical professionals in helping the public understand the human psyche, navigate life’s complexities, and raise awareness of mental and physical health through both art and scientific knowledge.
“One of MedFest’s main goals is to raise public awareness about the challenges we face and the human differences in responding to them, which helps us understand ourselves—and also understand those around us," commented Mina El-Naggar, founder and director of MedFest Egypt.
Amina Khalil
"Actress Amina Khalil," El-Naggar noted, "has recently starred in several film and television works that provide viewers with a meaningful space to reflect on themselves, better understand others’ behaviours, and appreciate the importance of embracing and managing differences."
Crucially, Khalil, 36, has succeeded in striking a balance between breaking taboos around psychological challenges and presenting them in a visually compelling and relatable way.
For example in an Egyptian horror-thriller film 122 (2019) and directed by Yasser Al Yasseri, Khalil plays Umnia, a character who is deaf and mute—a challenging role that required physical and emotional nuance. Though Umnia appears vulnerable due to her condition, the actress brought agency to the character: portraying her as a clever, alert, and responsive, actively fighting for survival.
In the 2021 TV series Khally Balak Men Zizi (Take Care of Zizi) Khalil portrays Zizi, a young woman with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), shining a light on a mental health condition that’s often overlooked or stigmatized in Egyptian society.
More recently, Khalil appeared in the TV series Lam Shamsiya (The Elephant in the Room, 2025), in which she played Nelly, a kindergarten teacher who uncovers child abuse within her family and confronts societal issues of child protection and betrayal. With emotionally intense, authentic scenes—like her breakdown upon discovering the abuse—Amina presented a painful and taboo topic in Arab culture, sparking widespread praise and encouraging societal dialogue about child protection and trauma.
Mona El-Rakhawy
Mona El-Rakhawy is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine in Cairo University.
She has made a significant impact through founding the platform El-Rakhawy Cinema Club - part of activities of the Rakhawy Institute for Training and Research - which is dedicated to discussing and analyzing the psychological dimensions of film characters.
Every month, the attendees watch a movie that presents a mental illness or disorder, and analyze it and reflect on it through a discussion between psychiatrists, counsellors in psychology and well-known public figures.
El-Rakhawy Cinema Club has offered audiences a deeper understanding of the human self through cinema, affirming that film is not just for entertainment, but also a powerful tool for enhancing human empathy and understanding.
MedFest Film Festival
Founded in 2017, MedFest is an Egypt-based film festival which focuses on the intersection of cinema and health.
Through screenings of short films, the festival aims to examining the impact of cinema on health and societal issues, such as mental health, women's health, and family dynamics.
The screenings are followed by discussions with health professionals and filmmakers.
Creating space for dialogue and mutual understanding within society, the festival also features panel discussions, workshops and networking events.
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