Cairo, 9th of August, 2017- El Gouna Film Festival officially announced that Amr Salama’s film “Sheikh Jackson” will be the opening night film of the festival which will take place from the 22nd to the 29th of September2017, in the Red Sea’s honeypot destination El Gouna.
The film had been selected by the Festival’s Programming committee before it was scheduled to be screened in the Special Presentation of the 42nd annual Toronto Film Festival, which clearly highlights the importance of the film and marks its first steps of worldwide recognition. Soon after its screening in Toronto, the much-anticipated film will be proudly presented as the Opening Film of El Gouna Film Festival where it will be viewed by film industry professionals, film lovers as well as film critics and film scholars from Egypt, the Arab world and indeed the delegates who are expected on the first edition of GFF from all parts of the world. The screening of the film at GFF will only be its second outing in the international Festival circuit!
The movie is starring Ahmed El-Fishawy, Maged El-Kedwany, Ahmed Malek and Amina Khalil in addition to other guest stars such as Dorra and Mahmoud El-Bezzawy. The movie is written by Amr Salama and Amr Khaled and is joint production between “The Producers”, “iProductions” and “Film Clinic”. Germany’s Media Luna will be responsible for distributing the movie outside the Arab World.
The events of the film take us back to June 25, 2009 as the news of Michael Jackson's death took the world by storm affecting many, especially a preacher who was dubbed "Jackson" during his school days. But, what does a preacher have in common with the King of Pop? More importantly, can he now go back to his normal life, or will his memories and relationships with his loved ones raise the most prominent question in his mind? Is he the Sheikh, Jackson, or both?
“Any success achieved by any national festival will never be complete if it fails to attract artists and filmmakers from the region and present their work, hence, the programming team was searching for special Arab films and was successful in finding a unique Egyptian Movie to be screened in the opening of the festival, which aligns with the festival’s vision to showcase various movies from an international and regional prospective” said Intishal Al Timimi, The Festival Director.
The director of the Film, Amr Salama confirms that the movie is special and very personal to him, as he narrates in it a deep and private point of view towards others.
“Sheikh Jackson is a unique unorthodox experience, which usually tackles producers to make films, and I’m waiting for the feedback of the audience and critiques after the screening of the movie at El Gouna Film Festival” said the producer of the Film, Mohamed Hefzy.
Producer Hany Osama added: “Sheikh Jackson is the second collaboration between us and film director Amr Salama after our film “La Mo’aakhza”, and as usual he presents another experience full of modernity and adventure”.
About the Director Amr Salama:
Born in 1982, Graduated from the Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University in 2005. Some of his famous films are “Zay el Naharda” in 2008, “Asmaa” in 2011, and “Excuse my French” in 2014.
El Gouna Film Festival:
It is an annual Film Festival, it will be held for the first time this year at El Gouna Resort in Hurghada, Red Sea from the 22nd to the 29th of September 2017. The Festival aims to offer a rich programme with three main competitions (feature films, documentary films &short films). In parallel to the screenings and programme of the Festival, the organizers will hold “CineGouna Platform” which will act as a platform to develop and support promising Egyptian and Arab talents.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Press Office Manager of El Gouna Film Festival:
Khaled Mahmoud
+2 0122 355 3221
khaled.mahmoud@elgounafilmfestival.com
Media Relations Executive
Hill + Knowlton Strategies:
Mahmoud Salama
+2 0102 766 7717
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