Founded by producer Shahinaz Elakkad in 2017, Lagoonie Film Production is an Egyptian company that aims to develop the film and TV industry in Egypt and the Arab world by making and distributing high-quality films and TV series that address fresh and original topics place Arab films and TV shows on the international map.
Lagoonie Film Production has supported a list of trailblazing films that went on to win numerous awards at festivals, including FEATHERS by Omar El Zohairy, which claimed the Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI Award at Cannes Film Festival, as well as a Special Mention.
The company also worked on AMIRA by Mohamed Diab, which won three awards at Venice; Palestinian film HUDA’S SALON by Hany Abu-Assad; Jordanian film THE ALLEYS by Bassel Ghandour, and short film SHOKA WE SEKINA starring Menna Shalaby, Eyad Nassar, and Asser Yassin.
These films were featured in several international festivals like Cannes, Carthage, Karlovy Vary, Toronto, Venice, Red Sea, and El-Gouna.
Furthermore, the company produced several commercially successful films like FARQ KHEBRA by Sherif Nagib, RAS EL SANA, and the family-comedy film A’AZ EL WELD.” Lagoonie also produced a number of remarkable TV series, including ANA SHAHIRA... ANA EL KHA’EN and NEMRA ETNEIN.
Lagoonie Film Production has been keen to support the Arab cinema industry by offering awards to film projects at international film festivals like Toronto, Venice, El-Gouna, and Cairo and managed to make these film projects available on global platforms. It also sponsored a number of workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions at several international film festivals.
Lagoonie’s latest production is Amr Salama’s BARRA EL MANHAG starring Maged El-Kedwany and Ruby, which was released in cinemas. The film was commercially successful and gained positive acclaim from both the audience and critics.
BARRA EL MANHAG held its world premiere at the first edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival. It also received seven awards in different categories at the Cairo Film Society’s Festival in its exceptional edition in 2022.
Based on a general poll of critics, filmmakers, and Cairo Film Society members, BARRA EL MANHAG was picked as one of the top seven films in 2021.
Lagoonie also recently finished shooting Mostafa Abu Seif’s SA'ET EGABA, which stars Selim Mostafa, Sawsan Badr, Ghada Adel, Sherif Salama, Ayten Amer, Naglaa Badr, Entsar, Eman Elsayed, Mohammed Tharwat, Badria Tolba, Phaedra, Firas Saeed, Mourad Makram, Ahmed Fathy, Ahmed Talaat, Lateefa Fahmy, and Magdy El-Bhery alongside the folk singer Omar Kamal.
Currently, the company is working on several projects, including A NOSE AND THREE EYES, which is an adaptation of Ihsan Abdel Quddous’s novel. Moreover, its latest project, INSHALLAH A BOY by Amjad Al-Rasheed joined the Final Cut in Venice Workshop that was held at the 79th Venice International Film Festival — where it won three awards — the La Biennale di Venezia Jury Prize, El-Gouna Film Festival’s Award, and Festival International de Films de Fribourg’s Award.
It also won the Atlas’ Grand Prize for post-production at the Marrakech International Film Festival and two awards from Cairo Film Connection.
Additionally, Lagoonie’s feature film ALAM by Firas Khoury — which Lagoonie is distributing — was featured at the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival and the 44th Cairo International Film Festival, where it won three awards — Best Film, Best Actor, and the Audience awards.
Shahinaz El Akkad is the CEO of Lagoonie group. Lagoonie Film Production, a pioneer production house in Egypt and the MENA region, is one of the Lagoonie group's companies.
Through Lagoonie Film Production, Shahinaz managed to leave her mark on the scene by being the lady behind several widely acclaimed Film and TV Productions.
Helmed by Shahinaz El Akkad, Lagoonie Film Production produced a list of trailblazing films that won many film festival awards. The films include Feathers, by Omar El Zohairy, which reaped 4 global awards, including the Grand Prize and the FIPRESCI award at Cannes Film Festival, as well as a Special Mention. The films also boast Amira, by Mohamed Diab, which won 3 awards; Palestinian film Huda’s Salon, by Hany Abu-Assad; Jordanian film The Alleys, by Bassel Ghandour and short film Shoka we Sekina, starring Menna Shalaby, Eyad Nassar and Asser Yassin. Further films were selected at international festivals like Cannes, Carthage, Karlovy Vary, Toronto, Red Sea, and El Gouna.
Shahinaz went on to produce several commercially successful films like Fare’ Khebra by Sherif Nagib, Ras El Sana film, which features a star-studded cast, including Shereen Reda, Ahmed Malek, Basma, Eyad Nassar, Huda ElMufti and Engy El Moqaddem. The films also include A’az El Weld, starring Dalal Abdel Aziz, Mervat Amin, Shereen and Enaam Salousa. Besides films, Shahinaz produced a number of remarkable TV series including Ana Shahira ... Ana Elkha’en and Nemra Etnein.
In addition to Production, Shahinaz has been working to support the Arab cinema industry by offering awards to film projects at international film festivals like Toronto, Venice, El Gouna and Cairo. She also managed to make these film projects available on global platforms. She sponsored a number of workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions at several international festivals.
Recently, Shahinaz wrapped up shooting Amr Salam’s Barra El Manhag, starring Maged El Kedwany and Ruby which was released in cinemas in 2022. The film was commercially successful and gained positive acclaim from both the audience and critics. Barra El Manhag was selected for world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival. Moreover, it received 7 awards in different categories at Cairo Film Society Festival in its exceptional edition in 2022 and the Egyptian Catholic Centre Cinema Festival, where it scooped 6 awards. Based on a general poll of critics, filmmakers, and Cairo Film Society members, Barra El Manhag was picked as one of the top seven films to be presented in 2021.
She also just finished shooting Cairo Mecca, by Hani Khalifa, starring Mona Zaki, Mohamed Mamdouh, Shereen Reda, Khaled ElSawy, and Mohamed Farrag. Currently, Shahinaz is working on a number of new projects, including the film Anf w Thalath Oyoun (A Nose and Three Eyes), based on the masterpiece by great Egyptian novelist Ihsan Abdel Quddous’. Furthermore, it teamed up with The Producers company to co-produce the film Kundalini.
Shahinaz is keen on adapting stories and inspirational novels into films as she believes in the powerful role that TV and cinema play in sending positive messages to audiences.
