EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL APPOINTS MARIANNE KHOURY 

AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Cairo, June 24, 2023 - El Gouna Film Festival, in line with its vision to expand its reach and explore new horizons, is delighted to announce the appointment of acclaimed film producer and director Marianne Khoury as its new Artistic Director. This appointment strengthens the festival’s dedication to  support  Egyptian and Arab filmmakers and also to set  the stage for new growth and advancement in the regional film industry.

Khoury expressed her excitement for the new role stating, "Since its inception, El Gouna Film Festival has been instrumental in bringing significant projects to fruition by providing invaluable support. With my appointment as Artistic Director, I aim to expand the reach of sponsorship, support, and training workshops to discover and nurture young talents across all facets of filmmaking."

The executive director of El Gouna festival, Amr Mansi added that "the appointment of Khoury as artistic director of El Gouna Film Festival is one of the most important decisions taken by the festival management, stressing that I am sure that she will represent a strong addition to the festival by being in this position, being one of the most important filmmakers in the region, and has a lot of experience in the field”.

Festival Director, Intishal Al Timimi, expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “The bond between the festival and the esteemed producer Marianne Khoury is not a fleeting one; it is a robust relationship that has flourished over the past five editions of the festival in various capacities. From serving as a member of the documentary film jury to her role as a producer and frequent contributions to the CineGouna platform, Khoury's involvement has been instrumental."

"We are truly privileged to welcome Marianne Khoury as our new Artistic Director. Her remarkable contributions to the film industry and her dedication to showcasing diverse voices make her an ideal leader for the El Gouna Film Festival. With her vision and expertise, we are confident that the festival will continue to flourish as a hub for artistic innovation and cinematic brilliance."

Khoury produces and directs films that engage the audience on an intimate level, tackling themes of identity, memory and marginalization. She produced and co-produced around 30 feature films and documentaries that won awards in regional and international festivals. Marianne was instrumental in introducing the first edition of the Panorama of the European Film in Cairo in 2004 and ZAWYA in 2014. Her latest initiative, The Dahshur Workshops, is dedicated to the mentoring and development of films made by emerging Egyptian and Arab talent. Marianne’s latest film LET’S TALK  was selected to take part in the 32nd edition of IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, and also won the Audience Award at the 2019 Cairo International film festival.  

 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, especially through CineGouna Platform, an industry-oriented event created to empower Egyptian and Arab filmmakers and help them find artistic and financial support. CineGouna Platform presents the CineGouna SpringBoard and the CineGouna Bridge programs that provide opportunities for sharing and learning.