Short and restored medium films will be screened in the “Special Presentations” section of the 6th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (October 13-20, 2023)
The global community is about to attend a cinematographic renaissance while a collection of short and carefully restored means of the “Sudanese cinema group” will take the central scene at the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) 2023. These films, produced by the filmmakers Suliman Elnour, Eltayeb Mahdi and Ibrahim Shaddad, were meticulously restored by Arsenal – Berlin’s underesting film. Their effort and their dedication to preserve these cinematographic treasures deserve not only recognition, but also applause.
Speaking of the long and constructive association that the GFF maintained with the films and filmmakers of Sudan, Intishal Al Timimi, director of the GFF festival, “said:” When Marianne came to see me with this proposal, I welcomed her with open arms. The El Gouna Film Festival has long had a dynamic link with Sudanese cinema, marking a trip that started in 2018 with Khartoum Offside by Marwa Zein, as a development project. In 2019, the GFF celebrated the poignant story of Sudan with You Will Die at Twenty/You will die at 20 years from Amjad Abu Alala, who won the Gold Star of El Gouna in the Competition Fiens of Fiction. The same year, Talking About Trees directed by Suhaib Gasmelbari, who won the gold star of El Gouna for the best film in the competition feature documentary films, thus performing a Sudanese cinematic triumph. I should mention that Gasmelbari also won the Variety Mena Talent of the Year, a prestigious prize awarded each year by Variety at the GFF. Our pride extends to our association with Goodbye Julia de Mohamed Kordofani, winner of the Cinegouna Platform 2020 prize and several other prestigious honors as a participant of Cinegouna Springboard 2020. In October, the GFF will proudly present the first MENA of Goodbye Julia in addition to this remarkable program. »»
Marianne Khoury, artistic director of the GFFadded: ” By coincidence, while we plan this program, we learned that the filmmakers were present in Cairo, seeking refuge in the face of the recent wave of violence and tumult in Khartoum. This convergence of circumstances highlighted the urgency and the importance of providing a platform for their voices to be heard.“”
The Sudanese cinema group appeared in April 1989 with a resolute mission – “defending the illuminating power of cinema against the shadows of darkness”. This group of devoted filmmakers, disillusioned by the constraints of the film production sponsored by the Sudanese state, aspired to forge a new path for creative expression, cinematographic exploration and education. However, a political upheaval a few months later dismantled their dreams, relegating their cinematographic aspirations to a break of a decade. Now, thanks to the diligent work of the Arsenal Institute for the film and video art, these films are about to resurface, highlighting the ingenious stories and the metaphorical richness which would have almost been lost in history.
The upcoming 6th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival, scheduled from October 13 to 20, 2023, will present these masterpieces restored in its programming of “Special Presentations”.
The program will set out the following titles:
Afrika, Džungli, Baraban I Revoljucija (Africa, La Jungle, Les Drums and the Revolution) Suliman Elnour | Soviet Union | 1979 | 12 min. An exploration of the representation of Africa in Soviet society.
Al Dhareeh | The tomb Eltayeb Mahdi | Egypt | 1977 | 16 min. The story of a man with healing powers.
Al Habil | The rope Ibrahim shaddad | Sudan | 1985 | 31 min. Two blind men and a donkey sail in the desert.
Al Mahatta | The station Eltayeb Mahdi | Sudan | 1989 | 15 min. A representation of meetings at a crossroads in Sudan.
Arba’a Marat Lil Atfal | Four times for children Eltayeb Mahdi | Sudan | 1979 | 20 min. A insightful look at the lives of disabled children.
Jagdpartu | Hunting game Ibrahim shaddad | German Democratic Republic | 1964 | 40 min. A powerful comment on racism.
Jamal | A camel Ibrahim shaddad | Sudan | 1981 | 13 min. A moving portrait of the life of a camel and its parallel with human struggle.
Wa Lakin Alardh Tadur | She still turns Suliman Elnour | Soviet Union | 1978 | 18 min. An snapshot of life in a Yemeni school.
These restored films illustrate the indomitable spirit of the Sudanese cinema group and their lasting commitment to the art of cinema. While these films adorn the special presentations of the 6th El Gouna Film Festival, the public will be transported to a bygone era of cinematographic innovation and narrative shine.
About the El Gouna Film Festival
One of the main festivals in the MENA region, the GFF aims to present a wide variety of films to a passionate and competent audience, while promoting better communication between cultures thanks to the art of cinema. Its objective is to connect filmmakers in the region with their international counterparts in a spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange. The El Gouna Film Festival has made a reputation by presenting a diverse programming of films from around the world, with a strong emphasis on Arab cinema. The festival aims to promote and support industry growth in the region and provide a platform to filmmakers to present their work. The festival is also engaged in the discovery of new voices and strives to be a catalyst for the development of cinema in the Arab world, in particular thanks to the Cinegouna platform, an event towards industry created to empower Egyptian and Arabic filmmakers and help them find artistic and financial support. The Cinegouna platform presents the Cinegouna Springboard and Cinegouna Bridge programs which offer sharing and learning opportunities.
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