El Gouna Film Festival announces the dates of its 6th edition

Wed Feb 22, 2023

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El Gouna Film Festival announces the dates of its 6th edition

El Gouna, Feb 22, 2023: El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) proudly announces that the 6th edition of the festival will take place in El Gouna, one of Orascom Development’s fully integrated sustainable towns on the Red Sea, from October 13 to 20, 2023.  

The short one-year break allowed GFF’s management to reflect on the artistic and organizational aspects of the festival and to focus on consolidating the role GFF has played so far in the development of the film industry regionally and internationally.

The festival will continue to be held under the patronage of El Gouna Founder, Engineer Samih Sawiris and will be presented by Orascom Development, a leading developer of fully integrated destinations in Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with the support of Festival Founder, Engineer Naguib Sawiris.

Engineer Samih Sawiris commented: “I believe that El Gouna Film Festival has been an important artistic, creative, and cinematic activity in the region. I am committed to nurturing it so that it may continue to contribute to spurring growth of film and filmmakers: locally, regionally and globally. With the return of festival, I renew my faith in the belief that the arts and creativity are critical to the development of society. I am excited that El Gouna will continue to being the home of one of our most constructive cultural endeavours.”

GFF is also pleased to announce that festival Co-Founder and Entrepreneur Amr Mansi, who played a pivotal role in the establishment and success of GFF, will be its new Executive Director. Mansi ’s appointment is in line with the festival’s mission to offer its delegates, guests and participants a productive experience which in turn will grow and strengthen its role as a catalyst for the development of the industry in the region.

Amr Mansi expressed his enthusiasm for his new role in further supporting the El Gouna Film Festival and its mission to promote the MENA region and Egypt's film industry on the international stage. “I am excited for this year’s edition, which will be a milestone in the festival’s history. We are determined to create an unforgettable experience for all stakeholders and set a high standard for future editions.” He continued, “The El Gouna Film Festival is a testament to Egypt's dedication to the film industry and its potential to make an impact on the global stage.

Mansi succeeds Amal El Masri, who served as the festival’s Executive Director during the 4th and 5th editions.

“I would like to thank Amal for the significant role she played and for her great contributions.

during the past two editions of the festival,” added Engineer Samih Sawiris.

El Gouna Film Festival was founded in 2017 by Engineer Naguib Sawiris, in collaboration with actress and producer Bushra Rozza; CEO of I-Events Amr Mansi and film producer Kamal Zadeh. The initiative gained strength and momentum with the support of El Gouna founder Engineer Samih Sawiris and Orascom Development. The GFF team is helmed by festival director Intishal Al Timimi, who brings to the festival his knowledge and understanding of the regional and international cinematic landscape.

For the past five years, GFF has established its reputation as one of the leading film festivals in the Arab world dedicated to discovering the hidden talents in the region’s filmmaking industry, giving new voices a platform and helping Arab cinema to reach an international audience.

After five successful editions we wanted to take some time to re-evaluate the programme and explore all our options and reflect on how best to take the festival forward. We now return, totally
re-energised, and inspired to resume our past efforts to encourage the development of the industry in the region” said Intishal Timimi, Festival Director, GFF.

The 6th edition of GFF is set to take place from October 13 -20, 2023, while the activities of CineGouna Platform will take place October 14 -19, 2023 in the resort town of El Gouna.

About El Gouna Film Festival

One of the leading festivals in the MENA region, GFF aims to showcase a wide variety of films for a passionate and knowledgeable audience, while fostering better communication between cultures through the art of filmmaking. Its goal is to connect filmmakers from the region with their international counterparts in the spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange. The festival is committed to the discovery of new voices and strives to be a catalyst for the development of cinema in the Arab world.

About Orascom Development Holding AG

Orascom Development is a leading developer of fully integrated destinations that include hotels, private villas, and apartments, leisure facilities such as golf courses, marinas, and supporting infrastructure. ODH's diversified portfolio of destinations is spread over 6 jurisdictions (Egypt, UAE, Oman, Switzerland, Montenegro, and the United Kingdom), with a primary focus on tourist destinations. ODH currently operates 10 destinations: five in Egypt (El Gouna, O West, Taba Heights, Makadi Heights, and Byoum), The Cove in the United Arab Emirates, Jebel Sifah and Hawana Salalah in Oman, Luštica Bay in Montenegro, and Andermatt in Switzerland. The shares of ODH are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

About El Gouna

Just a four-hour flight from Europe’s major capitals, a four-hour drive from Cairo and a 30-minute drive from Hurghada International Airport, El Gouna is a place to savor, rest and enjoy year-round sunshine and picturesque views as well as colorful nightlife. It is a fully integrated, self-sufficient town, adhering to the highest global standards while offering a uniquely charming coastal experience. Covering 10 km of pristine shoreline on the beautiful Red Sea coast and accommodating 18 reputable hotels, two championship golf courses, two world-class marinas, co-working facilities, an airport, schools, universities, and an international hospital, the town has been thoughtfully designed to cater to everybody’s needs. In addition to the influx of visitors from around the world, over 15,000 Egyptians and international residents call El Gouna their home and allow the festival to have a core audience. El Gouna’s gracious seaside living supported by the convenience and exclusivity of a self-contained community, in addition to its commitment to operational efficiency, makes the town well-versed in the art of hospitality..

About Amr Mansi
A Professional Squash Association PSA World Tour player who was ranked amongst the top 50 players worldwide, Amr has, for over 10 years, created a rich portfolio of successful sports, entertainment, and cultural events. Among these figures, what has since become one of the world’s biggest and most successful international Squash tournaments: El Gouna International Squash Open.  In 2021, he founded Egypt’s Entrepreneurs Award (EEA); the country’s first award ceremony honoring the nations’ brightest entrepreneurs across various industries. 

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