In a ceremony reflecting the enduring power of the written word in Egypt’s cultural landscape, the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) concluded the 21st edition of the Sawiris Cultural Award on Thursday, January 8. Held at the Tahrir Cultural Center’s Ewart Memorial Hall at the American University in Cairo, the event honored both established and emerging writers for their outstanding contributions across various categories, continuing the award’s mission to champion creativity and highlight diverse literary voices.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Mohamed Abou El-Ghar, member of the Award’s Board of Trustees; Eng. Samih Sawiris, member of the SFSD Board of Trustees and patron of the award; and Eng. Naguib Sawiris, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. They were joined by the guest of honor for the 21st edition, the renowned actress Ilham Shaheen, alongside a distinguished group of intellectuals, artists, creators, and public figures. The evening’s proceedings were hosted by media personality Jasmine Taha and featured artistic performances by the “Ayamna El Helwa” band, The Ayoub Sisters, and young singer Haneen Elshater, creating a program that bridged literary and artistic expression.
The 21st edition recognized excellence in multiple fields, including novels, short story collections, literary criticism and narratives, playwriting, screenplays, and children’s literature. This breadth underscores the award’s standing as a premier annual platform for celebrating Egyptian literature and supporting creators across generations.
The winners of the 21st Sawiris Cultural Award were announced as follows:
Established writers
- Best Novel: Ahmed Abdel Latif for The Eras of Daniel in the City of Threads (Al Ain Publishing).
- Best Short Story Collection: Olfat Atef for Sons of the Doe (Al Hala Publishing).
Emerging writers
- Best Novel: * First Place:Walid Mekki for The First Suakin (Al Ain Publishing). The first-place novel also received the Translation Award.
- Second Place: Maryam El-Ajami for Maryam’s Image (General Egyptian Book Organization).
- Best Short Story Collection: * First Place: Withheld.
- Second Place: Nesma Ouda for Pet Rats (Al-Moharrer Publishing and Distribution).
Screenplays
- Established Writers: Nadine Salib and Abdallah Al-Ghaly for the screenplay The Far Land.
- Emerging Writers: Ahmed Sobhi and Berihan Moussa for the screenplay A Young Man in a Fix.
Playwriting
- First Place: Khaled Raslan for Refugee No. 1.
- Second Place: Hany Mehran for Brand Name Highlighter.
Literary criticism and narratives (Shared Prize)
- Fimoni Okasha for the book The Khawaja (Dar El Shorouk).
- Mohamed Abdel Basset Eid for the book The Tent of Criticism and Poetry (Al Ain Publishing).
Children’s literature (Under 12)
- First Place: Reham Shendy (Author) and Basma Hosam (Illustrator) for Lara the Mouse and Her Neighbors in the Building (Nahdet Misr Publishing).
- Second Place: Ahmed Al-Fakharany (Author) and Hayam Safwat (Illustrator) for When Laughter Disappeared from the World (Marah Publishing).
The 2025 judging panels
For the 2025 cycle, seven judging panels were formed, each comprising five prominent writers, filmmakers, playwrights, critics, and drama professors. The committees evaluated works under strict confidentiality and objectivity to ensure fair competition.
- Established Novel & Short Story Panel: Mohamed Shoair (Rapporteur), Gar El-Nabi El-Helw, Sobhi Moussa, Dr. Faten Morsi, and Dr. Fatima Qandil.
- Emerging Novel & Short Story Panel: Mahmoud El-Wardani (Rapporteur), Dr. Basma Abdel Aziz, Gerges Shukry, Gihan El-Gharabawy, and Dr. Mounira Soliman.
- Established Screenplay Panel: Said Shimi (Rapporteur), Bassam Mortada, Dr. Rahma Montasser, Dr. Salma Mubarak, and Menha El-Batraoui.
- Emerging Screenplay Panel: Abdel Fattah Kamal (Rapporteur), Taghrid El-Asfoury, Khaled Ezzat, Maggie Morgan, and Nadia Kamel.
- Playwriting Panel: Dr. Dina Amin (Rapporteur), Dr. Iman Ezz El-Din, Dr. Dalia Mansour, Dr. Reem El-Degwi, and Nasser Abdel Moneim.
- Literary Criticism & Narratives Panel: Dr. Mohamed Badawi (Rapporteur), Dr. Khairy Douma, Dalia Shams, Dr. Sahar El-Mougy, and Dr. Hala Fouad.
- Children’s Literature Panel: Dr. Abdel Rahman Nour El-Din (Rapporteur), Dina Mohamed, Sherif Arafa, Sally Samir, and Dr. Nadia El-Khouly.
Since its inception in 2005, the Sawiris Cultural Award has honored hundreds of creators, establishing itself as one of the Arab world’s most prestigious literary prizes and a testament to the Sawiris Foundation’s role in fostering enlightened thought and cultural identity.
