Intishal Al Timimi, founder and chief of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, is stepping down from the fest’s top leadership role.
Al Timimi had joined the festival when it launched in 2017 in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna, 250 miles south of Cairo, and rapidly put the event on the international festival map, proving its mettle in promoting the cream of the region’s cinematic crop, while also providing key support in nurturing new works through the informal CineGouna market. Going forward, he will will continue to work closely with the festival as a member of its international advisory board. His new role is that of strategic advisor “under which he will continue to offer guidance to the team and help develop the event,” the festival’s statement said.
The fest was created by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort.
Al Timimi had joined the festival when it launched in 2017 in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna, 250 miles south of Cairo, and rapidly put the event on the international festival map, proving its mettle in promoting the cream of the region’s cinematic crop, while also providing key support in nurturing new works through the informal CineGouna market. Going forward, he will will continue to work closely with the festival as a member of its international advisory board. His new role is that of strategic advisor “under which he will continue to offer guidance to the team and help develop the event,” the festival’s statement said.
The fest was created by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort.
- 3/25/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Intishal Al-Timimi, the long-time director of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, is stepping down from the role he has held since the event’s launch in 2017 in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna.
The respected Iraqi-born, Netherlands-based festival programmer will continue to work closely with the festival as a member of the International Advisory Board, in the new role of Strategic Advisor under which he will offer guidance to the team and help develop the event.
Al-Timimi has played a key role in building the El Gouna Film Festival, which was spearheaded by the El Gouna resort’s creator Samih Sawiris and his brother, media and property tycoon Naguib Sawiris.
“I would like, on behalf of each one of us at El Gouna Film Festival, to express our deepest appreciation to Intishal Al-Timimi for his outstanding leadership and countless contributions,” said Samih Sawiris.
“His passion for cinema...
The respected Iraqi-born, Netherlands-based festival programmer will continue to work closely with the festival as a member of the International Advisory Board, in the new role of Strategic Advisor under which he will offer guidance to the team and help develop the event.
Al-Timimi has played a key role in building the El Gouna Film Festival, which was spearheaded by the El Gouna resort’s creator Samih Sawiris and his brother, media and property tycoon Naguib Sawiris.
“I would like, on behalf of each one of us at El Gouna Film Festival, to express our deepest appreciation to Intishal Al-Timimi for his outstanding leadership and countless contributions,” said Samih Sawiris.
“His passion for cinema...
- 3/25/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, after being postponed due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, has announced it will hold a special edition from Dec. 14 to 21.
The event held in a seaside resort near the tourist town of Hurghada, 250 miles south of Cairo, will feature its previously announced full lineup of films, plus a special program dedicated to Palestinian cinema, in collaboration with the Palestine Film Institute.
“Additionally, a fundraising dinner is planned to gather donations for humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza in coordination with the Egyptian Red Crescent during the festival,” the fest said in a statement, adding that it’s “will be held without any celebrations.”
The Egyptian fest’s sixth edition will feature a rich mix of Arabic and international titles launching into the Middle East and plenty of promising projects from Arab countries set to be unveiled to prospective partners at its CineGouna industry side.
The event held in a seaside resort near the tourist town of Hurghada, 250 miles south of Cairo, will feature its previously announced full lineup of films, plus a special program dedicated to Palestinian cinema, in collaboration with the Palestine Film Institute.
“Additionally, a fundraising dinner is planned to gather donations for humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza in coordination with the Egyptian Red Crescent during the festival,” the fest said in a statement, adding that it’s “will be held without any celebrations.”
The Egyptian fest’s sixth edition will feature a rich mix of Arabic and international titles launching into the Middle East and plenty of promising projects from Arab countries set to be unveiled to prospective partners at its CineGouna industry side.
- 11/28/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival is back after a one-year hiatus with a rich mix of Arabic and international titles launching into the Middle East and plenty of promising projects from Arab countries set to be unveiled to prospective partners at its CineGouna industry side.
The event launched in 2017 by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris – whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort in a swathe of desert near the tourist town of Hurghada 250 miles south of Cairo – was put on pause in 2022 ostensibly due to the country’s economic crisis following five editions during which fest co-founder Amr Mansi and chief Intishal Al Timimi had managed to rapidly put El Gouna on the international festival map while also making it a favourite with the local crowd.
“If there is a positive from the fact that we were forced to skip a year it’s that we were sorely...
The event launched in 2017 by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris – whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort in a swathe of desert near the tourist town of Hurghada 250 miles south of Cairo – was put on pause in 2022 ostensibly due to the country’s economic crisis following five editions during which fest co-founder Amr Mansi and chief Intishal Al Timimi had managed to rapidly put El Gouna on the international festival map while also making it a favourite with the local crowd.
“If there is a positive from the fact that we were forced to skip a year it’s that we were sorely...
- 10/6/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Bosnian director Jasmila Zbanic will preside over the main jury of the 6th edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, which has announced its full lineup, featuring a rich mix of Arabic and international titles making their Middle East premieres as they compete for top prizes.
Following a one-year hiatus, the Oct. 13-20 event held in the Red Sea resort about 250 miles south of Cairo is back in full swing with founder and director Intishal Al Timimi firmly at the helm bolstered by widely respected Egyptian producer-director Marianne Khoury in the artistic director chair.
Alongside a roster of previously announced international festival circuit standouts competing for El Gouna awards, such as Justine Triet’s Cannes Palm d’Or-winning “Anatomy of a Fall,” Todd Haynes’ “May December” and Luc Besson’s “Dogman,” which was announced today, the new Arabic additions to El Gouna’s competition selection comprise the world premiere...
Following a one-year hiatus, the Oct. 13-20 event held in the Red Sea resort about 250 miles south of Cairo is back in full swing with founder and director Intishal Al Timimi firmly at the helm bolstered by widely respected Egyptian producer-director Marianne Khoury in the artistic director chair.
Alongside a roster of previously announced international festival circuit standouts competing for El Gouna awards, such as Justine Triet’s Cannes Palm d’Or-winning “Anatomy of a Fall,” Todd Haynes’ “May December” and Luc Besson’s “Dogman,” which was announced today, the new Arabic additions to El Gouna’s competition selection comprise the world premiere...
- 9/18/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
After a one-year hiatus, the much-missed El Gouna Film Festival (Oct. 13 – 20) is back and poised to make an increased impact. Joining beloved festival director Intishal Al-Timimi this time around is esteemed Egyptian producer-director Marianne Khoury in the artistic director position.
Khoury’s long-time championship of female filmmakers and themes finds an echo in the impressive first wave of programming just announced. Of the 19 features, 10 boast a distaff helmer or co-director.
The kudo-laden titles include “Anatomy of a Fall” from Justine Triet, “On the Adamant” from Nicolas Philibert, “Scrapper” by Charlotte Regan, “Stepne” from Maryna Vroda and “The Strange Path” from Guto Parente, which claimed every prize in Tribeca’s international competition.
Among the other buzzed-about auteur titles are Todd Haynes’ “May December” and Wang Bing’s epic documentary “Youth.” Emerging talents Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó offer dystopian hybrid-animation “White Plastic Sky,” while a robust documentary selection includes Tatiana Huezo...
Khoury’s long-time championship of female filmmakers and themes finds an echo in the impressive first wave of programming just announced. Of the 19 features, 10 boast a distaff helmer or co-director.
The kudo-laden titles include “Anatomy of a Fall” from Justine Triet, “On the Adamant” from Nicolas Philibert, “Scrapper” by Charlotte Regan, “Stepne” from Maryna Vroda and “The Strange Path” from Guto Parente, which claimed every prize in Tribeca’s international competition.
Among the other buzzed-about auteur titles are Todd Haynes’ “May December” and Wang Bing’s epic documentary “Youth.” Emerging talents Tibor Bánóczki and Sarolta Szabó offer dystopian hybrid-animation “White Plastic Sky,” while a robust documentary selection includes Tatiana Huezo...
- 8/24/2023
- by Alissa Simon
- Variety Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) has unveiled a first wave of international titles due to play at its upcoming comeback sixth edition, unfolding from October 13 to 20 after a one-year hiatus.
The selection features a number of high-profile festival titles including Justine Triet’s Cannes 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall, Berlinale 2023 Golden Bear winning documentary On the Adamant by Nicolas Philibert and Guto Parente’s Tribeca Film Festival break-out The Strange Path.
The line-up also showcases a host of buzzy first and second films including UK director Charlotte Regan’s Sundance 2023 Grand Jury Prize winner Scrapper and French filmmaker Delphine Deloget’s Cannes Un Certain Regard social drama All To Play For, starring Virginie Efira.
Respected Egyptian distributor and producer Marianne Khoury is overseeing the selection for the first time, following her appointment as artistic director earlier this year, working alongside long-time festival director Intishal Al Timimi.
The selection features a number of high-profile festival titles including Justine Triet’s Cannes 2023 Palme d’Or winner Anatomy Of A Fall, Berlinale 2023 Golden Bear winning documentary On the Adamant by Nicolas Philibert and Guto Parente’s Tribeca Film Festival break-out The Strange Path.
The line-up also showcases a host of buzzy first and second films including UK director Charlotte Regan’s Sundance 2023 Grand Jury Prize winner Scrapper and French filmmaker Delphine Deloget’s Cannes Un Certain Regard social drama All To Play For, starring Virginie Efira.
Respected Egyptian distributor and producer Marianne Khoury is overseeing the selection for the first time, following her appointment as artistic director earlier this year, working alongside long-time festival director Intishal Al Timimi.
- 8/23/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) will honor Egyptian director Marwan Hamed with a life Career Achievement Award at its upcoming sixth edition, running from October 6 to 12.
It marks the first element of the program to be announced as the Egyptian Red Sea festival returns this year following a one year hiatus in 2022.
Hamed studied film at the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo. His first short Li Li, adapted from a short story by Yusuf Idris, played at numerous festivals, winning the Audience Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Golden Award at the Carthage Film Festival.
He broke out with his 2006 first feature The Yacoubian Building, adapted from Alaa Al-Aswany’s best-selling novel, which captures Egyptian society in the 1990s and the consequences of its extremes of wealth and poverty.
Featuring an ensemble cast, including Egyptian icons Adel Imam, Nour El-Sherif and Yousra alongside then...
It marks the first element of the program to be announced as the Egyptian Red Sea festival returns this year following a one year hiatus in 2022.
Hamed studied film at the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo. His first short Li Li, adapted from a short story by Yusuf Idris, played at numerous festivals, winning the Audience Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and the Golden Award at the Carthage Film Festival.
He broke out with his 2006 first feature The Yacoubian Building, adapted from Alaa Al-Aswany’s best-selling novel, which captures Egyptian society in the 1990s and the consequences of its extremes of wealth and poverty.
Featuring an ensemble cast, including Egyptian icons Adel Imam, Nour El-Sherif and Yousra alongside then...
- 7/24/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Egyptian producer, director and mentor Marianne Khoury has been appointed artistic director of the El Gouna Film Festival in a clear sign that the prominent Arab event is aiming to make an ambitious comeback for its sixth edition following a one year hiatus.
The fest, launched in 2017 by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris – whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort in a swathe of Egypt’s desert near Hurghada, a tourist town 250 miles south of Cairo – was cancelled in 2022 after being held successfully for five years.
Khoury will replace Amir Ramses who stepped down as El Gouna’s artistic director at the end of its fifth edition before the event took a one year pause. Ramses subsequently took the reins as artistic director of the Cairo Film Festival, which is Egypt’s oldest and preeminent film event.
Though no reason was given at the time for El Gouna’s...
The fest, launched in 2017 by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris – whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort in a swathe of Egypt’s desert near Hurghada, a tourist town 250 miles south of Cairo – was cancelled in 2022 after being held successfully for five years.
Khoury will replace Amir Ramses who stepped down as El Gouna’s artistic director at the end of its fifth edition before the event took a one year pause. Ramses subsequently took the reins as artistic director of the Cairo Film Festival, which is Egypt’s oldest and preeminent film event.
Though no reason was given at the time for El Gouna’s...
- 6/26/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival will be back this year after being put on hiatus in 2022.
Organizers have announced that the prominent Arab fest’s 6th edition will take place in the Red Sea resort town between Oct. 13-20, while the fest’s industry arm, the CineGouna Platform, will run Oct. 15-19.
The fest, which was launched in 2017 by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris – whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort in a swathe of desert near Hurghada, a tourist town 250 miles south of Cairo – had been cancelled last year after five successful editions. Though no reason was given, the one year break was possibly due to Egypt’s Red Sea area is being impacted by the war between Russia and Ukraine, whose citizens represent about 40% of beach tourists who travel to Egypt annually.
Since 2017 artistic director Intishal Al Timimi has rapidly put El Gouna on the international festival map,...
Organizers have announced that the prominent Arab fest’s 6th edition will take place in the Red Sea resort town between Oct. 13-20, while the fest’s industry arm, the CineGouna Platform, will run Oct. 15-19.
The fest, which was launched in 2017 by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris – whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort in a swathe of desert near Hurghada, a tourist town 250 miles south of Cairo – had been cancelled last year after five successful editions. Though no reason was given, the one year break was possibly due to Egypt’s Red Sea area is being impacted by the war between Russia and Ukraine, whose citizens represent about 40% of beach tourists who travel to Egypt annually.
Since 2017 artistic director Intishal Al Timimi has rapidly put El Gouna on the international festival map,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) has announced its return for a sixth edition from October 13 to 20, 2023 after a one-year hiatus.
The future of the festival, unfolding in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of El Gouna, had looked uncertain over the summer following the cancellation of its 2022 edition in the wake of a difficult fifth edition, marked by a political backlash over the selection and resignations.
Launched in 2017, the event developed into a key event for the Middle East and North African film industry over its first five editions as well as a destination for non-mena film and TV professionals to connect with the region.
Intishal Al Timimi, who has led the festival from the start, returns as festival director.
“After five successful editions, we wanted to take some time to re-evaluate the programme and explore all our options and reflect on how best to take the festival forward,...
The future of the festival, unfolding in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of El Gouna, had looked uncertain over the summer following the cancellation of its 2022 edition in the wake of a difficult fifth edition, marked by a political backlash over the selection and resignations.
Launched in 2017, the event developed into a key event for the Middle East and North African film industry over its first five editions as well as a destination for non-mena film and TV professionals to connect with the region.
Intishal Al Timimi, who has led the festival from the start, returns as festival director.
“After five successful editions, we wanted to take some time to re-evaluate the programme and explore all our options and reflect on how best to take the festival forward,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival is being put on hiatus this year after five successful editions in what could be a precursor to the event being permanently scrapped or radically reshaped.
In a statement, fest organizers said “a decision was made to postpone the festival” which was scheduled to run Oct. 13-22 in the Egyptian Red Sea resort.
As for the reason, the nebulous statement, posted to social media, said the fest — which is now in its 6th edition — is being postponed “in view of the vital role” it’s played “in the art and tourism sectors, both locally and internationally,” which is now being re-thought “in view of current global challenges.”
Competition between Arab film fests has been increasingly fierce with the deep-pocketed Red Sea Festival in Saudi Arabia joining the fray last year, alongside the Cairo and Marrakech fests. These events are all slotted in the year...
In a statement, fest organizers said “a decision was made to postpone the festival” which was scheduled to run Oct. 13-22 in the Egyptian Red Sea resort.
As for the reason, the nebulous statement, posted to social media, said the fest — which is now in its 6th edition — is being postponed “in view of the vital role” it’s played “in the art and tourism sectors, both locally and internationally,” which is now being re-thought “in view of current global challenges.”
Competition between Arab film fests has been increasingly fierce with the deep-pocketed Red Sea Festival in Saudi Arabia joining the fray last year, alongside the Cairo and Marrakech fests. These events are all slotted in the year...
- 6/20/2022
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Amid ongoing disruption in the Arab world’s unstable fest landscape, Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival is staying the course and increasingly proving its mettle in promoting the cream of the region’s cinematic crop while also providing key support in nurturing new works.
El Gouna chief Intishal Al Timimi proudly points out that the fifth edition of the Oct. 14-22 event has secured eight high-profile features from Arab directors, most of which will be having their Middle Eastern premieres in the Egyptian Red Sea resort after bowing in Cannes and Venice.
They comprise French-Moroccan veteran Nabil Ayouch’s high-energy hip-hop drama “Casablanca Beats”; and two works from Lebanon: Mounia Akl’s dramedy “Costa Brava, Lebanon,” which targets Lebanon’s political malaise; and Ely Dagher’s “The Sea Ahead,” about a young woman who returns from Paris to Beirut and reconnects with the life she had left behind. There...
El Gouna chief Intishal Al Timimi proudly points out that the fifth edition of the Oct. 14-22 event has secured eight high-profile features from Arab directors, most of which will be having their Middle Eastern premieres in the Egyptian Red Sea resort after bowing in Cannes and Venice.
They comprise French-Moroccan veteran Nabil Ayouch’s high-energy hip-hop drama “Casablanca Beats”; and two works from Lebanon: Mounia Akl’s dramedy “Costa Brava, Lebanon,” which targets Lebanon’s political malaise; and Ely Dagher’s “The Sea Ahead,” about a young woman who returns from Paris to Beirut and reconnects with the life she had left behind. There...
- 10/13/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The fifth edition of project incubator event will showcase 20 projects in development and post-production.
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (October 14-22) has unveiled the selection of 20 projects in development and post-production from Arab filmmakers to be showcased at the fifth annual CineGouna Platform.
The platform will run from October 16-21.
The 13 projects in development include Algerian filmmaker Sofia Djama’s second feature A Quarter To Thursday In Algiers, about a woman whose plans to deal with an unwanted pregnancy are derailed by other life events.
Djama’s debut film The Blessed made its world premiere in Venice’s Horizons...
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (October 14-22) has unveiled the selection of 20 projects in development and post-production from Arab filmmakers to be showcased at the fifth annual CineGouna Platform.
The platform will run from October 16-21.
The 13 projects in development include Algerian filmmaker Sofia Djama’s second feature A Quarter To Thursday In Algiers, about a woman whose plans to deal with an unwanted pregnancy are derailed by other life events.
Djama’s debut film The Blessed made its world premiere in Venice’s Horizons...
- 9/17/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
The seventh edition will nurture 48 projects by first and second-time directors hailing mainly from the Arab world.
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) kicked off the online edition of its seventh annual talent and project development meeting Qumra on Friday.
Unfolding from March 12-17, the event will nurture 48 short and feature-length films at different stages of their creation from 41 countries, that have previously received the support of the Dfi grants programme.
They range from in-development projects such as Moroccan director Kamal Lazraq’s Casablanca-set kidnap caper Hounds to projects in post-production including Lebanese filmmaker Mounia Akl’s Costa Brava Lebanon,...
The Doha Film Institute (Dfi) kicked off the online edition of its seventh annual talent and project development meeting Qumra on Friday.
Unfolding from March 12-17, the event will nurture 48 short and feature-length films at different stages of their creation from 41 countries, that have previously received the support of the Dfi grants programme.
They range from in-development projects such as Moroccan director Kamal Lazraq’s Casablanca-set kidnap caper Hounds to projects in post-production including Lebanese filmmaker Mounia Akl’s Costa Brava Lebanon,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Iranian director Firouzeh Khosrovani has won the IDFA award for best feature-length documentary with “Radiograph of a Family,” a film that uses an intimate study of her parents’ marriage—her father was secular, Westernized and progressive, while her mother was a devout, traditional Muslim—to explore the divisions in Iranian society both in the run-up and aftermath of the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
The jury, which comprised Marie-Pierre Macia, Ed Lachman, Alice Diop, Abdelkader Benali, and Finn Halligan, praised Khosrovani for the strength of her storytelling, adding, “The fractured body of family life is told through images, photos, and enactments in such a way that the viewer, too, feels the loss.”
Contacted by Zoom, the director screamed with delight. “I’m honored,” she said, after taking a second or two to collect her thoughts. “I have no words to express how happy I am,” she enthused. “I just want to thank...
The jury, which comprised Marie-Pierre Macia, Ed Lachman, Alice Diop, Abdelkader Benali, and Finn Halligan, praised Khosrovani for the strength of her storytelling, adding, “The fractured body of family life is told through images, photos, and enactments in such a way that the viewer, too, feels the loss.”
Contacted by Zoom, the director screamed with delight. “I’m honored,” she said, after taking a second or two to collect her thoughts. “I have no words to express how happy I am,” she enthused. “I just want to thank...
- 11/26/2020
- by Damon Wise
- Variety Film + TV
There are rising concerns over a number of coronavirus cases believed to have originated at last week’s El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
“I’m seeing a growing number of people who attended the Gouna Film Festival are learning they got Covid-19,” warns a Facebook post circulating among those who attended the Oct. 23-31 event. “If you were there, please isolate and get tested. If you test positive, please let everyone you met know so they can isolate and get tested.”
The decision to host parties made El Gouna stand out from other physical events held in Europe in recent months. The festival also tested all foreign guests, which Venice and San Sebastian didn’t pursue. One could reasonably argue organizers did more to protect other guests from asymptomatic cases.
However, Al Jazeera reported Friday that several regional celebrities — who weren’t tested by organizers — have alleged they caught...
“I’m seeing a growing number of people who attended the Gouna Film Festival are learning they got Covid-19,” warns a Facebook post circulating among those who attended the Oct. 23-31 event. “If you were there, please isolate and get tested. If you test positive, please let everyone you met know so they can isolate and get tested.”
The decision to host parties made El Gouna stand out from other physical events held in Europe in recent months. The festival also tested all foreign guests, which Venice and San Sebastian didn’t pursue. One could reasonably argue organizers did more to protect other guests from asymptomatic cases.
However, Al Jazeera reported Friday that several regional celebrities — who weren’t tested by organizers — have alleged they caught...
- 11/6/2020
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Variety Film + TV
Jasmila Žbanic’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?” won the El Gouna Star for best narrative film at the El Gouna Film Festival, carrying a $50,000 prize. The film’s star, Jasna Duricic, also took home the best actress award, for her startling eponymous turn. Based on a true story, the 1995-set drama tells the story of a Un translator attempting to save the lives of her husband and son after the Army of Republic Srpska takes over the city of Srebrenica.
Other winners announced by jury president Peter Webber at the striking new open-air Festival Plaza included Ali Suliman as best actor for his turn as a Palestinian trying to reunite with his family in Ameen Nayfeh’s “200 Meters,” a film which also won the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award. Hilal Baydarov’s “In Between Dying” won the Netpac Award for best Asian film.
Other big winners on the night included...
Other winners announced by jury president Peter Webber at the striking new open-air Festival Plaza included Ali Suliman as best actor for his turn as a Palestinian trying to reunite with his family in Ameen Nayfeh’s “200 Meters,” a film which also won the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award. Hilal Baydarov’s “In Between Dying” won the Netpac Award for best Asian film.
Other big winners on the night included...
- 10/31/2020
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Variety Film + TV
May Odeh, whose first feature film as producer “200 Meters” debuted in the Venice Days Competition of the Venice Film Festival, received the Variety Middle East and North African Region Talent Award at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt Monday in a ceremony presided over by festival director Intishal Al Timimi and festival co-founder and chief of operations Bushra Rozza.
Odeh is the first producer and first female recipient of the award, now in its fourth year. “To get the award from Variety is a huge accomplishment because no one really appreciates the job of the producer,” said Odeh. “So, this prize is also dedicated to all the producers in the Arab world, particularly in Palestine, because it’s a fight, it’s a miracle to make a film.”
The prize is recognition of the seven years of endeavors it took to bring “200 Meters” to the screen. “200 Meters...
Odeh is the first producer and first female recipient of the award, now in its fourth year. “To get the award from Variety is a huge accomplishment because no one really appreciates the job of the producer,” said Odeh. “So, this prize is also dedicated to all the producers in the Arab world, particularly in Palestine, because it’s a fight, it’s a miracle to make a film.”
The prize is recognition of the seven years of endeavors it took to bring “200 Meters” to the screen. “200 Meters...
- 10/27/2020
- by Kaleem Aftab
- Variety Film + TV
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, which shifted its dates from September to an October slot, will mark a moment of post Covid-19 restart for the Arab film industry, while also seeking to reinvigorate the region’s international ties after the pandemic.
Barring complications, the ambitious event, now in its fourth edition, “will be the first festival in the region that will happen physically” after the pandemic, says its chief Intishal Al Timimi. He points out that El Gouna organizers have taken their cue from Venice and will have lots of sanitary measures in place for the Oct. 23-31 event held in a Red Sea resort where socially-distanced screenings will take place in open-air theaters.
Social distancing and other factors have caused El Gouna to reduce the lineup from 80 to roughly 65 entries, though its structure remains unchanged.
As always, the competition is a mix of titles picked from the year’s festival circuit crop,...
Barring complications, the ambitious event, now in its fourth edition, “will be the first festival in the region that will happen physically” after the pandemic, says its chief Intishal Al Timimi. He points out that El Gouna organizers have taken their cue from Venice and will have lots of sanitary measures in place for the Oct. 23-31 event held in a Red Sea resort where socially-distanced screenings will take place in open-air theaters.
Social distancing and other factors have caused El Gouna to reduce the lineup from 80 to roughly 65 entries, though its structure remains unchanged.
As always, the competition is a mix of titles picked from the year’s festival circuit crop,...
- 10/20/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The directors of Berlin, Kviff, El Gouna, Idfa, Iffr, Jerusalem and Marrakech are full of praise for Venice.
International film festival professionals were out in force at the 77th Venice Film Festival, which unfolded September 2-12 as the first major film event to take place against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a sign of just how much was riding on this exceptional edition, the heads of the Berlin, Cannes, Rotterdam, Karlovy Vary, Locarno and San Sebastian film festivals joined Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera at the first press conference of the festival and on stage for the opening-night...
International film festival professionals were out in force at the 77th Venice Film Festival, which unfolded September 2-12 as the first major film event to take place against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a sign of just how much was riding on this exceptional edition, the heads of the Berlin, Cannes, Rotterdam, Karlovy Vary, Locarno and San Sebastian film festivals joined Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera at the first press conference of the festival and on stage for the opening-night...
- 9/16/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
In today’s Global Bulletin, El Gouna announces CineGouna Platform finalists, “Decrypted” gets back to filming in the U.K. after a five-month layoff, Zdf boards a Danish co-production and Vice appoints a new VP for its U.K. non-fiction branch.
Festivals
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff), rescheduled to take place in person Oct. 23-31, has announced the 18 finalist projects selected to participate in this year’s 4th edition of the CineGouna Platform for projects produced or co-produced by Mena countries, running Oct. 25-30.
Also in its fourth year, CineGouna SpringBoard, a co-production lab dedicated to supporting regional projects, will feature 65 projects in development and 34 films in post-production.
This year, 18 projects were selected to participate in CineGouna Platform, 12 in development and six in post. At the end of the Platform, a best project will be selected and receive the CineGounda Platform Certificate and a cash prize of $15,000.
“CineGouna...
Festivals
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff), rescheduled to take place in person Oct. 23-31, has announced the 18 finalist projects selected to participate in this year’s 4th edition of the CineGouna Platform for projects produced or co-produced by Mena countries, running Oct. 25-30.
Also in its fourth year, CineGouna SpringBoard, a co-production lab dedicated to supporting regional projects, will feature 65 projects in development and 34 films in post-production.
This year, 18 projects were selected to participate in CineGouna Platform, 12 in development and six in post. At the end of the Platform, a best project will be selected and receive the CineGounda Platform Certificate and a cash prize of $15,000.
“CineGouna...
- 8/17/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
12 features and four shorts selected for the international line-up.
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) has signalled that it is pushing on with plans for a physical event this autumn amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and announced the line-up of 12 international features due to play at its fourth edition running October 23 to 31.
A number of the selections will physically world premiere at the Autumn festivals, including Thomas Vinterberg’s Cannes 2020 label title Another Round (Toronto), and Venice Giornate Degli Autori titles Oasis and The Whaler Boy.
A number of Berlinale 2020 titles are in the mix including Special Silver Bear winner Delete History,...
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) has signalled that it is pushing on with plans for a physical event this autumn amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and announced the line-up of 12 international features due to play at its fourth edition running October 23 to 31.
A number of the selections will physically world premiere at the Autumn festivals, including Thomas Vinterberg’s Cannes 2020 label title Another Round (Toronto), and Venice Giornate Degli Autori titles Oasis and The Whaler Boy.
A number of Berlinale 2020 titles are in the mix including Special Silver Bear winner Delete History,...
- 8/11/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦69¦
- ScreenDaily
El Gouna Film Festival Announces Revised Dates of Its 4th Edition
Gouna Conference and Culture Centre Set to Host the 2020 Events and Activities of GFF Responding to the challenging circumstances that all international film festivals are facing and to deliver a safe festival experience to its guests and audiences, El Gouna Film Festival (Gff)has announced slightly revised dates of its 4th edition, that is now scheduled to take place one month later than initially planned, and will run from October 23 to 31, 2020 in the Egyptian resort town of El Gouna.
The festival program will be announced by the end of September, 2020.
Gff Director Intishal Al Timimi stated: “Several film festivals have been impacted by the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic and their return to the scene will send a positive signal that the world is on its way to normalcy. At Gff, we choose to live in this hope and positivity...
Gouna Conference and Culture Centre Set to Host the 2020 Events and Activities of GFF Responding to the challenging circumstances that all international film festivals are facing and to deliver a safe festival experience to its guests and audiences, El Gouna Film Festival (Gff)has announced slightly revised dates of its 4th edition, that is now scheduled to take place one month later than initially planned, and will run from October 23 to 31, 2020 in the Egyptian resort town of El Gouna.
The festival program will be announced by the end of September, 2020.
Gff Director Intishal Al Timimi stated: “Several film festivals have been impacted by the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic and their return to the scene will send a positive signal that the world is on its way to normalcy. At Gff, we choose to live in this hope and positivity...
- 6/30/2020
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
In response to the global Covid-19 crisis and the health and safety challenges facing live, in-person events, Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) has announced revised dates for its 4th edition, now set to run Oct. 23-31, a month after it was originally planned.
Gff director Intishal Al Timimi said in a statement: “Several film festivals have been impacted by the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic and their return to the scene will send a positive signal that the world is on its way to normalcy. At Gff, we choose to live in this hope and positivity and continue our commitment to make a contribution to the development of cinema internationally and in the region, and to ensure a safe yet enjoyable experience for all participants.”
This year’s festival will be the first public event held in the newly built 8,000 square-meter Gouna Conference and Culture Center. The festival program...
Gff director Intishal Al Timimi said in a statement: “Several film festivals have been impacted by the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic and their return to the scene will send a positive signal that the world is on its way to normalcy. At Gff, we choose to live in this hope and positivity and continue our commitment to make a contribution to the development of cinema internationally and in the region, and to ensure a safe yet enjoyable experience for all participants.”
This year’s festival will be the first public event held in the newly built 8,000 square-meter Gouna Conference and Culture Center. The festival program...
- 6/29/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The International Emerging Film Talent Association (Iefta) Attends Egypt’s 2019 El Gouna Film FestivalWith Films, Mentorships, Panels & PartiesInternationally, there is always an appetite for stories untold, voices unheard and visions as yet unseen. This is attested to by the sold-out screenings and expanding number of screens at the El Gouna Film Festival, now in its third year and already one of the leading festivals in the Mena region.
Returning to Egypt’s Red Sea resort town, the Monaco-based International Emerging Film Talent Association (Iefta), committed to the discovery of new voices and supporting collaborations with filmmakers from across the Horn of Africa, Middle East and Asia, providing opportunity and education to those with little to no access to resources for their cinematic expression, is perfectly positioned to work with #Gff as they both strive to be a catalyst for the development of Cinema in the Arab World.
With its mission to discover,...
Returning to Egypt’s Red Sea resort town, the Monaco-based International Emerging Film Talent Association (Iefta), committed to the discovery of new voices and supporting collaborations with filmmakers from across the Horn of Africa, Middle East and Asia, providing opportunity and education to those with little to no access to resources for their cinematic expression, is perfectly positioned to work with #Gff as they both strive to be a catalyst for the development of Cinema in the Arab World.
With its mission to discover,...
- 10/6/2019
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
My first time in Egypt was last year at El Gouna Film Festival and I feel honored by the privilege of being here for a second year.It’s a small enough festival that you feel you can actually see all the films (even if you can’t), and yet it is large enough to be internationally cosmopolitan. The international mix of filmmakers, executives, writers and journalists is unique.
Opening Night was thrilling in an open air atrium leading to a huge open air screen, an audience dressed in their most elegant clothes in a setting that went beyond anything I had ever seen at a festival before.
Deborah Young, Recipient of #ArabCinemaCenter’s “Achievement Award for Film Critics” at Opening Night, El Gouna Film Festival 2019
This year I met old friends and new, like Oualid Mouaness whose film 1982 was announced as Lebanon’s submission for Academy Award Nomination for Best International Feature,...
Opening Night was thrilling in an open air atrium leading to a huge open air screen, an audience dressed in their most elegant clothes in a setting that went beyond anything I had ever seen at a festival before.
Deborah Young, Recipient of #ArabCinemaCenter’s “Achievement Award for Film Critics” at Opening Night, El Gouna Film Festival 2019
This year I met old friends and new, like Oualid Mouaness whose film 1982 was announced as Lebanon’s submission for Academy Award Nomination for Best International Feature,...
- 10/5/2019
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Festival chief Intishal Al Tamimi says El Gouna Film Festival has built solid foundations.
Sudanese drama You Will Die At Twenty has scooped the top prize at the third edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, the $50,000 El Gouna Golden Star for narrative film. The festival ran in the Red Sea resort from September 17-27.
The debut feature of Dubai-born Sudanese filmmaker Amjad Abu Alala is a contemporary drama about a young man raised to believe that will die at the age of 20-years-old.
You Will Die At Twenty world premiered in Venice where it won the Lion of...
Sudanese drama You Will Die At Twenty has scooped the top prize at the third edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, the $50,000 El Gouna Golden Star for narrative film. The festival ran in the Red Sea resort from September 17-27.
The debut feature of Dubai-born Sudanese filmmaker Amjad Abu Alala is a contemporary drama about a young man raised to believe that will die at the age of 20-years-old.
You Will Die At Twenty world premiered in Venice where it won the Lion of...
- 9/30/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Suhaib Gasmelbari, whose Sudanese documentary “Talking About Trees” premiered in the Berlinale’s Panorama section, received the Variety Middle East and North Africa Region Talent Award Saturday at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt from festival director Intishal Al Timimi.
Variety critic Jay Weissberg, who selected the honoree, said that it is not usual that within five minutes of a film starting he begins to cry, but he did so when watching “Talking About Trees.” “There is this most beautiful scene of these Sudanese directors who have not been able to make films, who have not been able to watch films on a big screen, who are expressing their love for cinema by recreating a scene from ‘Sunset Boulevard,’” he explained.
The documentary has as its backdrop the destruction of cinema in Sudan due to a toxic mix of dictatorial government and religious fundamentalism, but front and center are...
Variety critic Jay Weissberg, who selected the honoree, said that it is not usual that within five minutes of a film starting he begins to cry, but he did so when watching “Talking About Trees.” “There is this most beautiful scene of these Sudanese directors who have not been able to make films, who have not been able to watch films on a big screen, who are expressing their love for cinema by recreating a scene from ‘Sunset Boulevard,’” he explained.
The documentary has as its backdrop the destruction of cinema in Sudan due to a toxic mix of dictatorial government and religious fundamentalism, but front and center are...
- 9/22/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The star of “Aladdin,” Egyptian-Canadian actor Mena Massoud, called for a greater diversity of storytelling in movies and television when he spoke at the glamorous opening ceremony Thursday of the 3rd edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival.
Massoud, whose credits include Amazon’s “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” and Hulu’s “Reprisal,” lauded “the power of art” to change society.
“As artists we have an extraordinary and rare privilege to tell the stories of our people, our land, our culture. They grip us, tear us apart, and put us back together. We are our stories.
“When I was growing up [in Canada] I never really saw people that looked like me on the big screen, and that made me feel like I didn’t belong there, and there wasn’t room for my story.”
He added: “When we represent all cultures with sensitivity and truth, we foster a society that supports all people.
Massoud, whose credits include Amazon’s “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” and Hulu’s “Reprisal,” lauded “the power of art” to change society.
“As artists we have an extraordinary and rare privilege to tell the stories of our people, our land, our culture. They grip us, tear us apart, and put us back together. We are our stories.
“When I was growing up [in Canada] I never really saw people that looked like me on the big screen, and that made me feel like I didn’t belong there, and there wasn’t room for my story.”
He added: “When we represent all cultures with sensitivity and truth, we foster a society that supports all people.
- 9/20/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The upbeat state of Arab cinema will be on the screen and in the balmy air at Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Sept. 19-27), which is steadily gaining traction in its stated ambition to become a key platform and solid driver for Middle-East producers.
“This year was one the best for Arab cinema,” says Intishal Al Timimi, artistic director of the event held in a Red Sea resort. As evidence, he points out that each one of the five Arab films he selected for his 15-title main competition lineup is by a first-time director, and three are by women.
“It shows that young Arab filmmakers are thriving,” Al Timimi says.
Now at its third edition, El Gouna has, since its inception, aimed to combine a cream-of-the-crop lineup offering the finest and freshest global and Arabic offerings alongside its CineGouna market component, which nurtures projects, in either development or post,...
“This year was one the best for Arab cinema,” says Intishal Al Timimi, artistic director of the event held in a Red Sea resort. As evidence, he points out that each one of the five Arab films he selected for his 15-title main competition lineup is by a first-time director, and three are by women.
“It shows that young Arab filmmakers are thriving,” Al Timimi says.
Now at its third edition, El Gouna has, since its inception, aimed to combine a cream-of-the-crop lineup offering the finest and freshest global and Arabic offerings alongside its CineGouna market component, which nurtures projects, in either development or post,...
- 9/19/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Al Gouna Film Festival (Gff) has announced the program details of its 3rd edition, to take place in El Gouna, Egypt September 19–27.
Following the screening of a video showing the most important guests and artistic events of the past editions, the Egyptian actress, Injy El Mokkaddem, acting as moderator, asked the founder of El Gouna, an engineer named Samih Sawiris about his goals and dreams for Gff. Sawiris replied: “The festival was born successful since the first edition, and God helped us! As a film lover, I attend the majority of international festivals, and I hear how they talk about Gff, as if it has been present for many years.” Sawiris continued by requesting from the media not to pour all their efforts into the red carpet events, as the Festival will also be packed with other events and activities of great importance.
See videos of Al Gouna Film Festival’s last editions here.
Following the screening of a video showing the most important guests and artistic events of the past editions, the Egyptian actress, Injy El Mokkaddem, acting as moderator, asked the founder of El Gouna, an engineer named Samih Sawiris about his goals and dreams for Gff. Sawiris replied: “The festival was born successful since the first edition, and God helped us! As a film lover, I attend the majority of international festivals, and I hear how they talk about Gff, as if it has been present for many years.” Sawiris continued by requesting from the media not to pour all their efforts into the red carpet events, as the Festival will also be packed with other events and activities of great importance.
See videos of Al Gouna Film Festival’s last editions here.
- 9/2/2019
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
‘Aladdin’ star Mena Massoud confirmed to attend.
The El Gouna Film Festival, taking place on the Egyptian Red Sea coast Sept 19-27, has unveiled the line-up for its third edition.
A dozen international features, mainly selected from recent A-list festivals, will compete for the El Gouna Golden Star, worth $50,000, as well as other prizes.
Nearly half the competition titles hail from the Arab world including Lebanese filmmaker Oualid Mouaness’s 1982, about a school boy determined to declare his love to a classmate as war breaks out changing both their lives forever.
Nadine Labaki has a supporting role in the film,...
The El Gouna Film Festival, taking place on the Egyptian Red Sea coast Sept 19-27, has unveiled the line-up for its third edition.
A dozen international features, mainly selected from recent A-list festivals, will compete for the El Gouna Golden Star, worth $50,000, as well as other prizes.
Nearly half the competition titles hail from the Arab world including Lebanese filmmaker Oualid Mouaness’s 1982, about a school boy determined to declare his love to a classmate as war breaks out changing both their lives forever.
Nadine Labaki has a supporting role in the film,...
- 8/27/2019
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Winners in the narrative feature competition also included Ray & Liz, The Heiresses and Yomeddine.
Singaporean filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua’s A Land Imagined won the Golden Star in the Feature Narrative competition at the second edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, which wrapped on Friday night.
The film, which recently won the Golden Leopard at this year’s Locarno film festival, follows a detective investigating the disappearance of a migrant worker.
Ray & Liz, directed by the UK’s Richard Billingham, won the Silver Star in the same competition, while the Bronze Star went to The Heiresses from Paraguay’s Marcelo Martinessi.
Singaporean filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua’s A Land Imagined won the Golden Star in the Feature Narrative competition at the second edition of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival, which wrapped on Friday night.
The film, which recently won the Golden Leopard at this year’s Locarno film festival, follows a detective investigating the disappearance of a migrant worker.
Ray & Liz, directed by the UK’s Richard Billingham, won the Silver Star in the same competition, while the Bronze Star went to The Heiresses from Paraguay’s Marcelo Martinessi.
- 9/29/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Amid the Arab world’s volatile festival landscape, Egypt’s ambitious El Gouna Film Festival, heading into its second edition, is aiming to raise its profile a few notches. The fest has secured the cream of this year’s global cinematic crop and more than doubled the cash prizes for Arabic projects at its co-production market.
Following the unexpected shuttering last December of the Dubai fest and market after 14 editions, El Gouna is certainly better positioned to play a prominent role as an Arab film industry driver and bridgehead into the Middle East for quality international films.
“The only selection criteria we have is that all films should be fresh Middle East premieres,” says Intishal Al Timimi, artistic director of the Sept. 20-28 event held in the El Gouna Red Sea resort and backed by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris.
While world premieres are understandably scarce, this year El Gouna...
Following the unexpected shuttering last December of the Dubai fest and market after 14 editions, El Gouna is certainly better positioned to play a prominent role as an Arab film industry driver and bridgehead into the Middle East for quality international films.
“The only selection criteria we have is that all films should be fresh Middle East premieres,” says Intishal Al Timimi, artistic director of the Sept. 20-28 event held in the El Gouna Red Sea resort and backed by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris.
While world premieres are understandably scarce, this year El Gouna...
- 9/28/2018
- by Malina Saval
- Variety Film + TV
All three of the Arabic films in this article concern fathers and sons. The bonds of respect and the seeds of future relationships which men make are found in this primary relationship.Yomeddine, sweet, naive and satisfying, was written and directed by A.B. Shawky. Egypt’s official submission for the 2019 Oscars in the Foreign Language category, this film played very well to a huge and enthusiastic audience both here in El Gouna and in Cannes where it premiered.Bashay Rady Gamal) leaving the leper colony with his beloved donkey is followed by his young orphaned friend, The Nubian, Obama,.
You can — and should — bring children to see this film. The best was watching this film with children here in El Gouna where it screened in a sold-out open-air theater of 1,200 seats with a desert breeze moving the scenes of huge landscapes in waves as if they were planned visual effects.
You can — and should — bring children to see this film. The best was watching this film with children here in El Gouna where it screened in a sold-out open-air theater of 1,200 seats with a desert breeze moving the scenes of huge landscapes in waves as if they were planned visual effects.
- 9/27/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Egyptian-Austrian director A.B. Shawky, whose unconventional road movie “Yomeddine” is Egypt’s candidate for the foreign-language Oscar, will be the recipient of Variety’s Mena Talent of the Year Award, to be bestowed during the upcoming El Gouna Film Festival.
“Yomeddine,” in which a middle-aged man raised in a leper colony embarks with a sidekick and a donkey on a journey across Egypt to try to reconnect with his family, world-premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, a rare case of a first feature making the official competition cut. The film won the non-official Francois Chalais Prize in Cannes, which is given to life-affirming works.
Shawky’s passion project, which stars non-professional actor Rady Gamal, who suffers from leprosy and is a resident of the leper colony, won the works-in-progress award last year at the El Gouna festival’s Cinegouna Platform. This year, the completed “Yomeddine” will have its...
“Yomeddine,” in which a middle-aged man raised in a leper colony embarks with a sidekick and a donkey on a journey across Egypt to try to reconnect with his family, world-premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, a rare case of a first feature making the official competition cut. The film won the non-official Francois Chalais Prize in Cannes, which is given to life-affirming works.
Shawky’s passion project, which stars non-professional actor Rady Gamal, who suffers from leprosy and is a resident of the leper colony, won the works-in-progress award last year at the El Gouna festival’s Cinegouna Platform. This year, the completed “Yomeddine” will have its...
- 9/19/2018
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
After its strong presence earlier this year in Berlin and Cannes, Arab cinema is represented at Venice by six titles hailing from Syria, Palestine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, which all reflect the region’s politics albeit in very different ways.
Though there are no Arab pics competing for the Golden Lion in Venice — unlike Cannes, where Lebanese director Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum” and Egyptian-Austrian first-time filmmaker Abu Bakr Shawky’s “Yomeddine” competed for the Palme d’Or — there are two Arab entries vying for prizes in the Lido’s Horizons section dedicated to more cutting-edge works: France-born Syrian first-time feature helmer Soudade Kaadan’s drama “The Day I Lost My Shadow,” and “Tel Aviv on Fire,” a high-concept comedy by Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi, who studied at Columbia U., plus four other films spread across other sections.
Set in war-torn Damascus in 2012, “The Day I Lost My Shadow” is about...
Though there are no Arab pics competing for the Golden Lion in Venice — unlike Cannes, where Lebanese director Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum” and Egyptian-Austrian first-time filmmaker Abu Bakr Shawky’s “Yomeddine” competed for the Palme d’Or — there are two Arab entries vying for prizes in the Lido’s Horizons section dedicated to more cutting-edge works: France-born Syrian first-time feature helmer Soudade Kaadan’s drama “The Day I Lost My Shadow,” and “Tel Aviv on Fire,” a high-concept comedy by Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi, who studied at Columbia U., plus four other films spread across other sections.
Set in war-torn Damascus in 2012, “The Day I Lost My Shadow” is about...
- 9/5/2018
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Arab cinema professionals are asking whether another Arab film festival can fill the void left by the closure of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff).
The Arab film world is having a high profile Cannes this year with several buzzy titles premiering here, such as Egyptian Palme d’Or contender Yomeddine, Syria’s Un Certain Regard entry My Favorite Fabric, and Mohamed Ben Attia’s Directors’ Fortnight title Our Son.
The arrival of a big Saudi Arabian delegation to kickstart the country’s drive to build the biggest film and TV business in the Gulf, following the lifting of its 30-year-old cinema ban,...
The Arab film world is having a high profile Cannes this year with several buzzy titles premiering here, such as Egyptian Palme d’Or contender Yomeddine, Syria’s Un Certain Regard entry My Favorite Fabric, and Mohamed Ben Attia’s Directors’ Fortnight title Our Son.
The arrival of a big Saudi Arabian delegation to kickstart the country’s drive to build the biggest film and TV business in the Gulf, following the lifting of its 30-year-old cinema ban,...
- 5/15/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
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