A celebration of cinema and emerging talents

The kick -off of the highly anticipated 7th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) will be given this evening, marking the start of a week rich in cinematographic discoveries, professional meetings and initiatives in favor of young talents. Taking up from October 24 to November 1, 2024, this edition is once again essential as an essential event for moviegoers from around the world. The GFF continues to strengthen its role as a pioneer platform in the MENA region, promoting both cultural exchange and the promotion of cinematographic diversity.

A significant expansion of programs and initiatives

Over the years, the festival has extended its influence not only by the quality of the selected films, but also by its initiatives intended to support the new generation of filmmakers. This year, Cinegouna Platform and Cinegouna Bridge are more robust than ever, with a particular accent on young creators. The Cinegouna Funding, one of the flagship programs, offers substantial aid to the most promising cinematographic projects, offering subsidies totaling $ 360,000. Twenty -one films, from 13 Arab countries, compete for the prestigious festival prizes alongside international productions from 9 Western countries.

The Cinegouna for Emerging Talents remains a key support program for budding filmmakers. This unique platform brings together more than 150 participants each year, offering interactive workshops, mentoring sessions and networking opportunities. Thanks to this initiative, young creators from different cultures can acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to make a name for themselves in the film industry.

A captivating opening film: The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

Due to last minute changes, the opening film initially planned, The Last Miracle Abdelwahab Shawky, was replaced by the short film by Nebojša Slijepčević, The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent. Inspired by a true story on courage and resistance during the Bosnian War, this film won the golden palm of the short film at the Cannes Festival 2024.

A prestigious jury to reward the best talents

The Jury of the official GFF 2024 competition is made up of eminent personalities of international cinema, testifying to the growing prestige of the event. The fiction feature films competition is chaired by the talented Nandita Das, an Indian director and actress, accompanied by the Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby. The jury for documentary films is led by Lebanese director Eliane Raheb, with the participation of the Tunisian director Nejib Belkadhi. The competition of short films brings together rising figures of Arab cinema, such as Amina Khalil and Amir El-Masry. Finally, the El Gouna Green Star competition, rewarding films with an eco -responsible approach, will be chaired by Tara Emad and Ahmed Magdy.

A festival at the service of cultural exchange

The GFF has known, over the editions, to establish itself as a bridge between the Arab world and the international, facilitating the meeting and the collaboration between filmmakers of different horizons. In addition to its official competition, the festival offers an out -of -competition section, with projections of works by worldly recognized filmmakers. Pedro Almodóvar, for example, will present his highly anticipated film, The Room Next Doorwhich will make its first in the Middle East and North Africa on October 28, 2024, after winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Mostra.

Dhe contemporary masterpieces on the program

This edition does not fail to highlight exceptional international works, including films that have already marked major festivals. For example, April Dea Kulumbegashvili (Georgia, France, Italy), a powerful film on trauma and survival, or even Architect by Victor Kossakovsky (Germany, France), a visually breathtaking documentary. Several films will compete in the El Gouna Green Star Prize, such as the environmental documentary The Battle for Laikipia by Daphne Matziaraki & Peter Murimi (Kenya, Greece, USA).

Other famous directors will also be present, such as Andrea Arnold with Sneaky (United Kingdom) or Jia Zhang-Ke with Caught by the Tides (China). Mohammad Rasoulof will present The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Iran, Germany, France), an incisive film tackling political and social issues. These last three films were in competition at the last Cannes Film Festival.

A commitment to the Palestinian cause

Among the flagship initiatives of this edition, the “A window on Palestine” program continues to appear in a good place. After last year’s success, this dedicated section presents six films which highlight the realities experienced by the Palestinian people. These works testify to the resilience and creativity of Palestinian filmmakers in a context of conflict. Films such as Khaled and Na’ma de Suhail Dhadhal, or The key From Rakan Miassy, are among the most anticipated projections of this program.

A growing festival

Through this ambitious and diversified programming, the El Gouna 2024 film festival is confirmed as one of the most important events for cinema in the Arab world and beyond. More than a simple showcase of talent, he embodies a place of exchange, creation and support for eco -responsible initiatives and social causes. Thanks to its international opening and its commitment to intercultural dialogue, the GFF contributes to the development of a more inclusive and lasting film industry.