US economy slows to 1.6% in Q1 of '24 – BEA    EMX appoints Al-Jarawi as deputy chairman    Mexico's inflation exceeds expectations in 1st half of April    GAFI empowers entrepreneurs, startups in collaboration with African Development Bank    Egyptian exporters advocate for two-year tax exemption    Egyptian Prime Minister follows up on efforts to increase strategic reserves of essential commodities    Italy hits Amazon with a €10m fine over anti-competitive practices    Environment Ministry, Haretna Foundation sign protocol for sustainable development    After 200 days of war, our resolve stands unyielding, akin to might of mountains: Abu Ubaida    World Bank pauses $150m funding for Tanzanian tourism project    China's '40 coal cutback falls short, threatens climate    Swiss freeze on Russian assets dwindles to $6.36b in '23    Amir Karara reflects on 'Beit Al-Rifai' success, aspires for future collaborations    Ministers of Health, Education launch 'Partnership for Healthy Cities' initiative in schools    Egyptian President and Spanish PM discuss Middle East tensions, bilateral relations in phone call    Amstone Egypt unveils groundbreaking "Hydra B5" Patrol Boat, bolstering domestic defence production    Climate change risks 70% of global workforce – ILO    Health Ministry, EADP establish cooperation protocol for African initiatives    Prime Minister Madbouly reviews cooperation with South Sudan    Ramses II statue head returns to Egypt after repatriation from Switzerland    Egypt retains top spot in CFA's MENA Research Challenge    Egyptian public, private sectors off on Apr 25 marking Sinai Liberation    EU pledges €3.5b for oceans, environment    Egypt forms supreme committee to revive historic Ahl Al-Bayt Trail    Debt swaps could unlock $100b for climate action    Acts of goodness: Transforming companies, people, communities    President Al-Sisi embarks on new term with pledge for prosperity, democratic evolution    Amal Al Ghad Magazine congratulates President Sisi on new office term    Egypt starts construction of groundwater drinking water stations in South Sudan    Egyptian, Japanese Judo communities celebrate new coach at Tokyo's Embassy in Cairo    Uppingham Cairo and Rafa Nadal Academy Unite to Elevate Sports Education in Egypt with the Introduction of the "Rafa Nadal Tennis Program"    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Euro area annual inflation up to 2.9% – Eurostat    BYD، Brazil's Sigma Lithium JV likely    UNESCO celebrates World Arabic Language Day    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Rising star
Soha Hesham Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 06 - 09 - 2018

Last Tuesday a press conference announcing programme highlights for the second El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) took place at the Fairmont Hotel Nile Towers. Present were GFF founder Naguib Sawiris, El Gouna founder Samih Sawiris, GFF cofounders and administrative heads Amr Mansi, Bushra Rozza and Kamal Zadeh as well as Artistic Director Intishal Al-Timimi and Minister of Tourism Rania Al-Mashat.
This year the festival, which was widely celebrated on its launch, aims to showcase a wider variety of films and encourage greater networking and exchange through the CineGouna Platform. It includes 80 films in total: 15 in the Feature Narrative Competition, 12 in the Feature Documentary Competition, 23 in the Short Film Competition and 25 in the Official Selection Out of Competition. This year's Creative Achievement Award goes to Egyptian filmmaker Dawoud Abdel-Sayed and Tunisian producer Dorra Bouchoucha.
The jury brings together world acclaimed actor Ali Suleiman, Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, Moroccan director Ahmed Al-Maanouni, newly appointed Berlinale Director Carlo Chatrian, Croatian producer Cedomir Kolar, Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, film programmer Ally Derks, three-time Green Oscar winning filmmaker from India Mike Pandey, Georgian director Ana Urushadze (winner of of GFF's Golden Star last year for Scary Mother), Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak, Austrian programmer Doris Bauer and Palestinian actor Kamel Al-Basha (who won the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2017).
The CineGouna Platform (SpringBoard and Bridge), which offers workshops, panels, round tables and master classes as well as prizes, has doubled its prize money, offering the winners in project development and post-production a total of $150,000 provided by GFF as well as sponsors and partners. Screening in the official competition is last year's CineGouna Award (Cannes Festival Chalais Prize) winner Yomeddine, directed by Abu Bakr Shawky.
Three tribute programmes present restored film screenings with exhibitions of art and memorabilia. They mark 10 years since Youssef Chahine's death with The Emigrant (1994), 100 years since Ingmar Bergman's birth with Persona (1966) and Wild Strawberries (1957) and 25 years since Federico Fellini's death with a discussion with the cowriter of Intervista (1987) Gianfranco Angelucci offering insights into Fellini's professional and personal life.
The Cinema for Humanity programme features Stories of Refugees (moderated by Variety film critic Jay Weissberg) Women in Film (moderated by Bouchoucha).
Highlights include (in the Feature Narrative Competition) Cold War by Pawel Pawlikowski from Poland, Dear Son by Mohamed bin Attia from Tunisia, Screwdriver by Bassam Jarbawi from Palestine and (in the Feature Documentary Competition) America by Claus Drexel, winner of the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes and Graves Without a Name by Rithy Panh from France as well as (out of competition) At War by Stéphane Brizé from France, Dogman by Matteo Garrone from Italy, Mug by Malgorzata Szumowska from Poland, Eyar Nari (Gunshot) by Karim Al-Shennawi from Egypt.

Clic here to read the story from its source.