The sixth edition of El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) was held from 14 to 21 December 2023 at the charming lagoon resort of El Gouna on the Red Sea The festival, which is usually held in September/ October, had been twice postponed this year; the organisers felt that the festive atmosphere did not fit with the pain and suffering of the Palestinian people on account of the war in Gaza.
The event finally kicked off without the usual glitz and glitter, featuring no red carpet event. In that, it contrasted with previous which were marked by flashy opening ceremonies and guests competing to steal the lights on the red carpet with designer outfits; this year most guests arrived dressed in black. Numerous actors and cinema professionals from Egypt, the Arab region and the world attended this edition of GFF; Fast and furious actor Tyrese Gibson attended the closing ceremony.
Cinema for humanity
The closing ceremony on 21 December was keen to affirm the festival’s support for films that emphasise human values: “Cinema for humanity”, GFF’s all time motto. In his speech during the closing ceremony of the festival, business tycoon Naguib Sawiris who founded GFF in 2017 said that “no one can doubt our intentions nor our sympathy with Palestine, so this session is a gift to our people in Palestine.”
The closing ceremony saw Egyptian alternative rock band Cairokee and their lead singer Amir Eid perform a heart-wrenching rendition of their single ‘Tilka Qadiya’, literally “That case” in tribute of the people of Palestine. In the evocative style synonymous with Cairokee, Mostafa Ibrahim’s lyrics posed a piercing enquiry into the integrity of those who claim virtue while overlooking principles of fairness and parity. At its core, the song stands as a resonant testament to disillusionment with a world that professes advocacy for human rights while turning a blind eye to its anguish and injustices.
This edition of GFF showcased 90 films from 49 countries. The festival’s programme consisted of the three official competitions: Feature Narrative Competition, Feature Documentary Competition and Short Film Competition, in addition to the Official Selection out of Competition and Special Presentations.
The Feature Narrative Competition included 14 films. The jury of the competition was headed by Bosnian Director Jasmila Žbanić. The GFF programme also included 12 films in the Feature Documentary Competition, 21 films in the Short Film Competition, and 17 films in the Official Selection out of Competition section.
Thirteen films competed for the GFF’s annual Cinema for Humanity Audience Award, while five competed for El Gouna Green Star Award dedicated to the best work covering environmental causes.
CineGouna
El Gouna Film Festival was founded in 2017 by Mr Sawiris in collaboration with actress and producer Bushra Rozza, international event organizer and CEO of I-Events Amr Mansi, and film producer Kamal Zadeh. The initiative gained strength and momentum with the support of El Gouna founder business tycoon Samih Sawiris, a younger brother of Naguib Sawiris, and support of many private sector sponsors. The festival is presented under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.
The mission of El Gouna Film Festival is to showcase a diverse range of films catering to a creative and well-versed audience. Designed for artists and filmmakers, GFF aspires to foster communication between cultures and filmmakers to benefit the industry and the Middle East region through the art of filmmaking, by connecting filmmakers from the region with their international counterparts in a spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange. The festival is dedicated to the discovery of new voices, and strives to be a catalyst for the development of cinema in the Arab world, particularly through its industry segment CineGouna Platform which, through its various branches, aims at developing and empowering Egyptian and Arab filmmakers, and helping them find the necessary technical and financial support.
CineGouna Platform consists of the CineGouna SpringBoard, CineGouna Bridge, and the latest addition the CineGouna Market. CineGouna SpringBoard is a project development and co-production lab that offers opportunities to find creative and financial support for Arab film directors and producers with projects in development or films in post-production.
CineGouna Bridge is a meeting point and a forum for dialogue between different cinematic voices, where Arab filmmakers and their international counterparts engage in and share their perspectives on a wide range of subjects related to the social and business aspects of cinema.
As part of the festival’s commitment to the film industry, GFF launched this year CineGouna Market which serves as a workspace for established and emerging voices in the film industry. It houses the El Gouna Short Film Gallery, where promising filmmakers interact with seasoned filmmakers. The festival is one of the leading festivals in the Middle East.
Window on Palestine
The CineGouna Bridge this year featured 14 seminars, lectures and workshops. Among them was Filmmaking Masterclass with Marwan Hamed; a symposium on “Cinema in Crises… A Look at Palestine”; and a creative development and pitching workshop titled “From Pitch to Production; the workshop focused on projects by Egyptian female filmmakers
GFF was keen to highlight the Palestinian cause and shed light on its details. It thus launched the special programme “Window on Palestine”, in cooperation with the Palestinian Film Foundation, featuring a set of Palestinian films that go to the core of Palestinian stories.
El Gouna Film Festival concluded its 2023 edition, with an awards ceremony for winning films from around the world.
Awards
The Creative Achievement Award was given to Egyptian director Marwan Hamed, who is among the most prominent young directors of his generation. Mr Hamed was born in 1977; he has an extensive repertoire that extends over 20 years of experience in producing and directing successful hits. Among them Yacoubian Building, produced in 2006; it was the most expensive film ever made in the history of Egyptian cinema at the time and screened at some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, winning numerous awards. Among his works are the Blue Elephant and Kira wel-Gen
The NETPAC—Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema—Award for Best Asian Film went to From Abdul to Laila directed by Laila al-Bayati, an Iraqi-born director residing in France. From Abdul to Laila took audiences on an emotional journey during which, following an accident, a young Franco-Iraqi woman seeks her identity, reconnecting with her family, confronting her father’s past, and embracing her Arab roots. The film beautifully explores language, music, and suppressed memories.
The FIPRESCI— International Federation of Film Critics— Award went to Hollywood Gate, directed by Ibrahim Nashat, an Egyptian residing in Germany. The film unravels the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Taliban’s encounter with advanced military technology leads to unexpected consequences, exposing the transformation of a fundamentalist militia into a military regime. Nashat’s personal connection with the subject matter adds depth to this gripping narrative.
Winners
The El Gouna Star Award for Best Arab Short Film went to Yaraka, directed by Michelle and Noel Keserwany from Lebanon but based in France. The film explores the shared struggles of two women working in a Lyon restaurant. Connecting through a common thread of forced migration, the film delves into the challenges faced by women displaced from their homes.
The Golden Star for Short Film went to Cross My Heart And Hope To Die by director Sam Manaxa of the Philippines.
In their selection, the Short Films jury focused on talent, and on who excelled in shedding light on creativity, distinct vision, and a new perspective in storytelling.
Star films
The El Gouna Green Star Award for GFF was won by The Buriti Flower, directed by João Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora from Brazil. The documentary explores three periods of indigenous history, emphasising the Krahô people’s fight for freedom and nature preservation.
El Gouna Star For Best Arab Documentary Film was won by Machtat directed by Sonia Ben Slama from Tunisia. The film exposes the complexities behind the Tunisian music of machtat. As well as the traditional musicians at wedding ceremonies, shedding light on the disparity between the music’s promise of love and the harsh reality.
The top honours of El Gouna Gold Star For Documentary Film went to Hollywoodgate directed by Ibrahim Nashat.
The Cinema For Humanity Audience Award which honours a feature-length film that embodies humanitarian themes, was this year awarded to Goodbye Julia directed by Mohamed Kordofani from Sudan. This film takes place just before the secession of South Sudan; a married former singer from the north seeks redemption for causing the death of a southern man by hiring his oblivious wife as her maid. Goodbye Julialeft a poignant impinge on audiences.
Stars
The El Gouna Star Award for Best Actor went to Bottsooj Uortaikh for his role in the film If I Could Drown with a Hibernation directed by Zoljargal Purevdash of Mongolia. This Mongolian film, which was also selected for screening in Cannes, tells the story of the poor teenage boy Proud Olze who is determined to win a physics competition to acquire a scholarship.
El Gouna Star For Best Actress went to Parwin Rajabi, for her remarkable portrayal of a woman who has never experienced any attention from her husband, till she falls ill. In Transient Happiness, directed by Sina Muhammed from Iraq who also won El Gouna Star For Best Arab Narrative Film.
El Gouna Gold Star For Best Narrative Film was awarded by the jury to In Our Day directed by Hong Sangsoo from South Korea. This film is the 30th in his Sangsoo’s career; it brilliantly depicts two separate and alternate conversations during the film: one between an actress and an abyss and the other between an old poet and a fan.
Watani International
28 December 2023