El Gouna, September 21, 2021: Diligently working to bring the very best cinematic works that international cinema has to offer, El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) is delighted to announce the selection of 11 international feature narrative films for its 5th edition, scheduled to take place from October 14 – 22, 2021 in the resort town of El Gouna.

Regarding El Gouna Film Festival’s feature narrative selection, GFF Director Intishal Al Timimi said, “Inspired by the storytellers and the stories from all around the world that they bring to life on screen, we have made it our mission to handpick  films that will stir emotions, and encourage intelligent exchange. I am proud of the wonderful lineup that we will present in our upcoming  5th edition of GFF.”

Artistic Director Amir Ramses added, “We have always admired the great talents and inspiring stories that feature narrative films continue to present to us. Here at El Gouna Film Festival, we will forever remain loyal to our quest of sharing these exciting stories with our audience of cinephiles and aspiring filmmakers.” 

Another World

France

Directed by: Stéphane Brizé

Philippe Lemesle and his wife are separating, their love irretrievably damaged by the pressures of work. An executive for an industrial conglomerate, Philippe no longer knows how to respond to the contradictory demands of his bosses. Another World won the SIGNIS Award at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.

Compartment No. 6

Finland, Germany, Estonia, Russia

Directed by: Juho Kuosmanen

A young Finnish woman escapes an enigmatic love affair in Moscow by boarding a train to the arctic port of Murmansk. Forced to share the long ride and a tiny sleeping car with a Russian miner, the unexpected encounter leads the occupants of compartment no. 6 to face the truth about their own yearning for human connection. The film won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Murina

Croatia, Brazil, USA, Slovenia

Directed by: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović

Tensions rise between restless teenager Julija and her oppressive father Ante when a family friend arrives at their Croatian island home. As Ante attempts to broker a life-changing deal, their tranquil yet isolated existence leaves Julija wanting more from this influential visitor, who provides a taste of liberation over a weekend laid bare to desire and violence. The film won the Camera d’Or award  at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Sundown
Mexico, France, Sweden

Directed by: Michel Franco

From the outside, it would appear that Neil Bennett, a wealthy Briton vacationing with loved ones at a luxury resort in Acapulco, wants for nothing. Until a single phone call shatters Neil’s idyll: there’s been a death in the family, and he, his sister Allison, and the kids must return to London immediately. The film screened at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.

The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic
Finland

Directed by: Teemu Nikki

Jaakko is blind and tied to his wheelchair. He loves Sirpa. Living far away, they have never met in person, but they meet every day over the phone. When Sirpa is overwhelmed by shocking news, Jaakko decides to go to her immediately despite never having left his home because of his condition. The film won the Audience Award at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.

Happening
France

Directed by: Audrey Diwan

Adapted from Annie Ernaux’s autobiographical novel, the film recounts a young woman’s physical and emotional battle to get an illegal abortion in a desperate race against the clock. A powerful and gripping drama set in a society that condemns female desire and sexual liberation. Happening won the Golden Lion at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.

I Am Your Man
Germany

Directed by: Maria Schrader

Alma is a scientist at the famous Pergamon Museum in Berlin. In order to obtain research funds for her work, she is  persuaded to participate in an extraordinary study, where, for three weeks, she has to live with a humanoid robot tailored to her character and needs, and whose artificial intelligence is designed to be the perfect life partner for her.

Les Olympiades
France

Directed by: Jacques Audiard

Paris, 13th District, today. Emilie meets Camille, who is attracted to Nora, who crosses the path of Amber. Three girls and a boy redefine what modern love is. Les Olympiades had its world premiere at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Natural Light

Hungary, France, Germany, Latvia

Directed by: Dénes Nagy

Stván Semetka, a simple farmer drafted in the Hungarian army, finds himself a witness to a mass murder. The plot follows the man during the three days leading up to the massacre, slowly familiarizing the audience with who he is and how he makes decisions. The film won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival.

One Second
China

Directed by: Zhang Yimou

Set in China during the Cultural Revolution, a nameless prisoner escapes from a labor camp, risking everything to search for a stolen film reel in which his long-lost daughter appears for only one second. On his way, he encounters a scruffy orphan girl haunted by her own terrible loss. 

Unclenching the Fists
Russia

Directed by: Kira Kovalenko

In a former mining town in North Ossetia, a young woman struggles to escape the stifling hold of the family she loves as much as she rejects it. The film received the Un Certain Regard top prize at the 2021 Cannes 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 its industry hub CineGouna Platform.