El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) proudly announced the details of its 7th edition, set to take place from October 24 to November 1, 2024, during a grand press conference held earlier today, Sunday, 29th September. The conference was attended by Eng. Naguib Sawiris, festival’s founder and Chairman of Orascom Investment Holding, Eng. Samih Sawiris, founder of the coastal town of El-Gouna and Chairman of the festival’s board, iconic actress Yousra, member of the festival’s international advisory board, Eng. Omar El-Hamamsy, Group CEO of Orascom Development Holding, Mr. Amr Mansi, Executive Director and Co-founder of the festival, the renowned filmmaker and GFF’s Artistic Director, Marianne Khoury. The conference was presented by Sarah Bissada, Deputy Executive Director of the Festival.

During the conference, the recipient of the ‘Creative Achievement Award’ was revealed to be the esteemed actor Mahmoud Hemida renowned for his versatility, innovation, and a storied career that spans decades and Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige collaborative filmmakers, artists, authors, from Lebanon known for their profound engagement in questioning imaginaries and representations, writing of history and storytelling.

Eng. Samih Sawiris confirmed in his speech that “the festival has given a cultural dimension to El Gouna, making it a well-known cultural and tourist destination worldwide” Expressing his gratitude to all the sponsors and partners who have contributed to the festival's continuity he noted, "After reaching the seventh edition of the festival, I would like to thank all the sponsors and partners who have contributed to the festival's continuity and its goals of supporting the film industry." He went on to add that "the festival, throughout its various editions, has not overlooked its role in environmental sustainability, having established the ‘Green Gouna Star’ award, which is given to films that address environmental issues in light of the challenges posed by global warming and climate change." Articulating his desire to celebrate the festival's ongoing success decades from now.

“Reaching our 7th edition is a testament to the prestigious stature GFF has achieved as a beacon of cinematic excellence. Launched with international standards, the festival has become a vital platform in the cultural landscape and a pillar for supporting the film industry in Egypt and across the Arab world,” remarked Eng. Naguib Sawiris, Festival’s Founder and Chairman of Orascom Investment Holding. “Each year, we gather with renewed energy and hope, especially amid the ongoing global conflicts. As part of GFF’s social responsibility, we continue to champion our theme, ‘Cinema for Humanity,’ to raise awareness about humanitarian issues, showcasing how cinema can elevate and improve lives, even in the most tragic circumstances.”

Omar El-Hamamsy, Group CEO of Orascom Development Holding, said “Partnering with GFF for its 7th edition reflects our commitment to creating vibrant and culturally rich destinations that inspire and nurture artistic talent. We take pride in seeing El-Gouna evolve from being the first integrated coastal town to a global hub for filmmakers, artists, and cultural innovators. This year’s festival is set to further empower thriving, sustainable communities that celebrate the power of cinema, creativity, and cultural exchange while offering opportunities for global skill development.”

The executive director of the El Gouna Film Festival, Amr Mansi, opened his speech by expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people amid the current challenges facing the region, hoping that Lebanon will return "stronger than ever.

During the conference, Mansi detailed the extensive preparation that went into this year’s edition, stating, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all media representatives and journalists, who have been a vital partner in the success of the festival since its inception. Their continuous encouragement drives us to deliver a strong edition year after year. From the very beginning, we have sought to provide support and guidance to filmmakers across the Arab world, in collaboration with our partners and sponsors. In line with GFF’s role as a world-class cinematic and touristic destination, last year we decided to enhance media coverage by consolidating all industry-related programs, filmmaker gatherings, and red-carpet events into one central hub –El-Gouna Plaza. This dynamic center is designed to foster seamless interaction among filmmakers, audiences, and the media throughout the day.”

Mansi added, “Despite last year’s challenges, our decision to create a dedicated and centralised space industry and media activities proved pivotal. Not only did it open doors to new opportunities, but also attracted more partnerships and boosted media coverage." GFF's commitment to supporting the Arab film industry has been unwavering since inception. Our Film Market, launched last year, facilitated greater production partnerships and has expanded significantly in the 7th edition. Like all of us at GFF, our partners too have demonstrated their zeal and commitment to the growth of the regional film industry. Their enthusiastic participation and active support are a testament to their belief in GFF's vision. We are honoured to have such dedicated partners who share our passion for fostering a thriving film ecosystem in the Arab world.  The success of the film Market launched last year has encouraged us to expand this program in the 7th edition, which will see the participation of 22 companies from various Arab countries, marking a significant increase from the previous year. This has reinforced our confidence that we are heading in the right direction”.

Reflecting on GFF’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent and its capacity to make a positive impact on the international cinematic landscape, Mansi expressed his pride in the growth of CineGouna Emerge, which has evolved from a single program to an umbrella housing all of the festival's young and emerging talent programs. The CineGouna Emerge program, an initiative introduced by Artistic Director Marianne Khoury during the 6th Edition, and supported this year by Drosos Foundation and the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, invites hundreds of young filmmakers to attend the festival.

Mansi concluded his speech by extending his gratitude to the festival’s founders, Naguib and Samih Sawiris, for their continued support, which has played a vital role in GFF’s success and its significant contribution to the Egyptian film industry.

Revealing the lineup of films, activities and personalities expected to participate in GFF#2024, renowned filmmaker and Artistic Director, GFF noted, "The lineup of films, festival events, and industry experts participating in GFF reflect our commitment to fostering cultural exchange and supporting emerging filmmakers. Our film program showcases a diverse selection of 71 films from 40 countries, including 55 feature-length narratives and documentaries and 16 short films. Notably, 44% of these films are directed by women, and 13 represent directorial debuts or second features. We are proud to offer world premieres for 3 feature-length films and 3 short films, highlighting the fresh perspectives and talent emerging from the Arab region’’ shared Marianne Khoury, renowned filmmaker and Artistic Director of El Gouna Film Festival.”

“Beyond the screenings, we are excited to present the recently rebranded vital initiative CineGouna Funding that is dedicated to fostering emerging Arab filmmakers and facilitating their access to artistic and financial support for their projects. From a pool of over 230 quality submissions, a dedicated committee of industry experts selected 21 projects: 11 in development (7 narratives, 6 documentaries) and 10 in post-production (4 narratives, 4 documentaries). These projects showcase a diverse range of stories from 13 Arab nations and feature co-productions with producers from 9 additional countries."During GFF#2023, projects and films in post-production were awarded US $360,000 in prizes, thanks to the support of GFF’s partners and sponsors, this number is set to grow this year. It is a matter of pride for us that several  CGP-supported projects and talents have gone on to win awards and accolades at major film festivals worldwide”, Khoury added. 

Marianne Khoury also noted that "The CineGouna Filmmakers Forum, headed by Mariam Naoum, continues this year its activities in managing in-depth discussions about the film industry, in addition to holding training courses and workshops for film professionals."

She also highlighted the festival's continued expansion, mentioning "The festival is witnessing further expansions in its activities, such as the ‘CineGouna Market’ headed by Mohamed Taymour, which was launched last year, as well as the ‘EMERGE’ (CineGouna for Emerging Talents) program headed by Hayat Aljowaily, which brings together all the festival’s initiatives to support young talents."

As always, The festival has this year too, invited a number of regional and international industry experts from various cinematic backgrounds to participate in the platform’s diverse activities with focus on young and emerging talents.

The 7th edition of GFF will be held in the stunning town of El Gouna in partnership with Orascom Development and its destinations, O West and Makadi Heights. The festival is sponsored by leading entities, including, Cairo Design District CDD as the Official Art and Design Partner, Abou Ghaly Motors as the official Transportation partner, ON TV as the Principal Media Partner, BMW as the Official Automotive Partner, Orange as the Official Telecom Partner, CIB as the Official Banking Partner, Pepsi as the Official Beverage Partner, Concrete as the Official Fashion Partner, seven as the Official Consumer Finance Partner, EgyptAir as the Official Carrier, alongside our other valued Partners, Mohamed Al-Sagheer as Official Beauty Partner, TicketEgypt as Official Ticketing Partner, in collaboration with Impact BBDO. The festival is organized under the auspices of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Culture, and organized by Ievents.

About El-Gouna Film Festival:

El-Gouna Film Festival (GFF) is one of the premier cultural events in the MENA region, dedicated to showcasing a diverse array of films from around the world, with a thoughtful emphasis on Arab cinema. The festival aims to engage a passionate and knowledgeable audience while fostering dialogue and understanding between cultures through the universal language of filmmaking. A key objective of GFF is to connect filmmakers from the Arab world with their international peers, promoting collaboration and cultural exchange.