El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) proudly announces the unveiling of "CineGouna Bridge." 

Cairo, December 13, 2023

CineGouna Bridge shines the light on the behind-the-scenes of Cinema – creating a bridge between emerging and established filmmakers, between artists and industry professionals, and between local and global talents. By the shores of the Red Sea, and in between inspiring screenings, the Bridge program gathers film enthusiasts and veterans alike around a program of exciting masterclasses, workshops, panels, and networking opportunities aimed at dissecting the how-to's and the why’s of cinema and fostering meaningful connections and collaborations.

The Bridge program will hold a number of  thought-provoking panels with the most pressing topics in the film industry, both regionally and globally, today, ranging from Arab representation abroad to artificial intelligence and intellectual property: 

1. “Arabs Abroad: Representation Reframed:” Exploring nuanced perspectives on Arab identity globally, featuring Rhonda Ragab, Amir El Masry, Nourhan Tewfik, Manal Issa  and moderated by Marya Bangee.

2. “Impact Filmmaking: Walking the Talk:” Delving into the transformative power of cinema to drive social change with a special screening of Matar by Syrian director Hassan Akkad, featuring Sylvain George, Mabel Evans, Habib Trabelsi and Ahmed Malek,and moderated by Hayat Aljowaily

3. “Climate Storytelling (Breaking the Mold):” Challenging conventional narratives on environmental issues, featuring Kaja Grujic, Lubdhak Chatterjee,  Mohamed Omar  and moderated by Doaa Saber. 

4. “Beyond Borders: (Co)Producing Films Globally:” offering insights into international film collaboration, featuring Dorothe Beubemeir, Amjad Abu Elala, Mostafa Youssef & Rula Nasser and moderated by Soleil Gharbieh.

5. “Beyond Imagination: Delving Into IP & AI:”  Exploring the intersection of intellectual property and artificial intelligence, featuring Aliah Yacoub, Mahmoud Othman, Tarek El Ganainy and Ellie Jamen and moderated by Aliaa Zaky.

6. “Circulation and Mobilization: What Can Independent Cinemas Do in Times of Crisis?” – In Collaboration with NAAS, featuring May Odeh, Fatma Abed , Elaf El Kanzy , Kais Zaied and moderated by Nada Bakr. 

7. “From A to Z: Crafting Stories for Streaming:” Delving into creating local streaming, featuring  Ali Ghamloush, Mariam Abou Ouf, Mariam Naoum, Tarek Nasr and moderated by Karim El Shenawy 

8. “Spotlight on: Next Gen” – in collaboration with Mentor Arabia, highlighting emerging talents and provides a platform for mentorship and growth, featuring Aziz Zoromba, Kawthar Younis, Mostafa Sheshtawy, Farida Zahran, and moderated by Thuraya Ismail 

In response to the crisis in Gaza, a special panel in collaboration with Palestine Film Institute has been curated; "Camera in Crisis: A Lens on Palestine", featuring Palestinian filmmakers Khalil al Muzian, Farah Nabulsi, Ahmed Al Munirawi  , Rashid Masharawi, and moderated by Mohammed El Mughanni, delving into the pivotal role of cinema as a form of resistance.

A masterclass with distinguished filmmaker Marwan Hamed, recipient of this year's Career Achievement Award, promises to offer valuable insights into the craft of filmmaking. Additional masterclasses with industry professionals are also in the works.

CineGouna Bridge program will also hold an in conversation with the prestigious actress Youssra, and it will be moderated by Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director of GFF. Furthermore, the Bridge program will witness an in conversation with French-American actor Christopher Lambert. 

This year, the Bridge program will also host a creative development and pitching workshop, “from Pitch to Production,” organized in collaboration with the Rawiyat- SIF collective, focusing on projects by Egyptian female filmmakers

The program will feature a diverse array of speakers, including local, regional, and international talents, creating a bridge between generations and individuals with diverse paths in the film industry.

Despite two initial postponements, the festival remains committed to delivering a dynamic and relevant program that mirrors the ever-evolving nature of the film industry.

For more information, please visit: www.elgounafilmfestival.com

About El Gouna Film Festival

El Gouna Film Festival, founded in 2017, is 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 Bridge program that provides opportunities for sharing and learning and the CineGouna SpringBoard, a project development and co-production lab.  New this year is the CineGouna Market, including the Short Film Lounge, a place creating a link between emerging and established filmmakers.