Suez Canal expects return to normal traffic by mid-2026 as Maersk, CMA CGM return    Gaza death toll rises as health crisis deepens, Israel's ceasefire violations continue    Turkey's Erdogan to visit Egypt in early 2026 as Cairo pushes for Palestinian technocratic committee    Egypt's "Decent Life" initiative targets EGP 4.7bn investment for sewage, health in Al-Saff and Atfih    Egypt, Spain discuss cooperation on migration health, rare diseases    Egypt, Oman eye deeper industrial integration through Sohar Port    Egypt, Armenia sign cooperation protocol to expand trade and investment    Three Chinese firms to invest $1.15bn in Egypt's Sokhna industrial zone    Egypt, Viatris sign MoU to expand presidential mental health initiative    Gold, silver rise on Tuesday    Oil prices dip on Tuesday    URGENT: IMF reaches staff-level deal with Egypt on fifth, sixth reviews    Egypt signs EGP 500m deal with Titan to build three waste treatment facilities in Sharqeya    Egypt's PM reviews rollout of second phase of universal health insurance scheme    Egypt sends medical convoy, supplies to Sudan to support healthcare sector    Egypt sends 15th urgent aid convoy to Gaza in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services    Al-Sisi: Egypt seeks binding Nile agreement with Ethiopia    Egyptian-built dam in Tanzania is model for Nile cooperation, says Foreign Minister    Al-Sisi affirms support for Sudan's sovereignty and calls for accountability over conflict crimes    Egypt flags red lines, urges Sudan unity, civilian protection    Egypt unveils restored colossal statues of King Amenhotep III at Luxor mortuary temple    Egyptian Golf Federation appoints Stuart Clayton as technical director    4th Egyptian Women Summit kicks off with focus on STEM, AI    UNESCO adds Egyptian Koshari to intangible cultural heritage list    UNESCO adds Egypt's national dish Koshary to intangible cultural heritage list    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Giza master plan targets major hotel expansion to match Grand Egyptian Museum launch    Australia returns 17 rare ancient Egyptian artefacts    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    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    







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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.

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