El Gouna Film Festival 8: Cate Blanchett Arrives, Yousra Honored, and $50,000 for Best Narrative Film

تستعد مدينة الجونة الساحلية لاستقبال الدورة الثامنة من مهرجان الجونة السينمائي الدولي، والذي يعد واحدًا من أبرز الفعاليات السينمائية في المنطقة. تحت شعار “سينما من أجل الإنسانية”، يهدف المهرجان إلى تعزيز الحوار الثقافي ودعم القضايا المجتمعية.

#Cinema and Series

Gulf Flower – JordanToday

On Thursday evening (October 16), the eighth edition of the “El Gouna International Film Festival” will kick off in the coastal city of El Gouna on the Red Sea, with a new look and under the slogan “Cinema for Humanity,” aiming to enhance cultural dialogue and support social issues through the “seventh art.”

On Wednesday evening, the arrival of festival guests was completed, who will attend the events until October 24, including international star Cate Blanchett, who will be honored with the “Humanity Hero” award, in addition to being the festival’s guest of honor. The star will participate in a dialogue session moderated by media personality Rhea Abirached, as part of the “Cine Gouna Forum,” held in partnership with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

This eighth edition carries a unique character, combining cinema, culture, and human inspiration, offering an exceptional cinematic experience this year that brings together global screenings, artistic events, and interactive programs that highlight cinematic creativity and the festival’s humanitarian message.

The festival continues its journey in supporting cinematic creativity and encouraging filmmakers to address humanitarian and social issues through cinematic works, as a creative artistic humanitarian message, while continuing its efforts to enhance Egypt’s position as a regional center for film production and an attractive destination for artists and directors from around the world.

The El Gouna Conference and Culture Center will host the opening and closing ceremonies, in addition to the main film screenings and major seminars, while outdoor screenings, the “Cine Gouna Forum,” interactive workshops, and dialogue sessions with stars will take place at “El Gouna Marina,” and the “El Gouna Art and Design Exhibition” will host special exhibitions and artistic initiatives accompanying the festival.

Exceptional Honor for Star Yousra:

The “El Gouna International Film Festival” will organize a special exhibition for Egyptian star Yousra on the second day of the festival (Friday, October 17), celebrating her diverse works in cinema, drama, and theater, in a gesture of appreciation for her artistic career that has spanned over five decades. The festival’s official account on Instagram shared a video showcasing posters of Yousra’s films and images from her most prominent artistic milestones, solidifying her name as one of the icons of Egyptian and Arab art.

Value of the “El Gouna Film Festival” Awards:

The administration of the “El Gouna International Film Festival” revealed on its official website the value of the eighth edition awards across various categories, as follows:

• Golden Gouna Star for Best Narrative Film: Trophy, certificate, and $50,000.
• Silver Gouna Star for Narrative Film: Trophy, certificate, and $25,000.
• Bronze Gouna Star for Narrative Film: Trophy, certificate, and $15,000.
• Gouna Star for Best Arab Narrative Film: Trophy, certificate, and $20,000.
• Gouna Star for Best Actor: Trophy, certificate.
• Gouna Star for Best Actress: Trophy, certificate.
• Golden Gouna Star for Best Documentary Film: Trophy, certificate, and $30,000.
• Silver Gouna Star for Documentary Film: Trophy, certificate, and $15,000.
• Bronze Gouna Star for Documentary Film: Trophy, certificate, and $7,500.
• Gouna Star for Best Arab Documentary Film: Trophy, certificate, and $10,000.
• Golden Gouna Star for Best Short Film: Trophy, certificate, and $15,000.
• Silver Gouna Star for Short Film: Trophy, certificate, and $7,500.
• Bronze Gouna Star for Short Film: Trophy, certificate, and $4,000.
• Gouna Star for Best Arab Short Film: Trophy, certificate, and $5,000.
• Annual Audience Award for Best Film: Cup, certificate, and $20,000.
• Green Gouna Star: Star, certificate, and $10,000.

Jury Committees for Festival Competitions:

Long Narrative Films Jury:

Leila Alawi / Egypt, chair of the committee which includes:

– Giuna A. Nazaro, artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival / Switzerland.

– Rashid Mashharawi, director and producer / Palestine, France.

– Kani Koshroti, actress / India.

– Nahuel Perez Biscayart, actor / Argentina.

Long Documentary Films Jury:

Nicolas Philibert, French filmmaker, chair of the committee which includes:

– Asma Al-Mudayr, writer, director, and producer / Morocco.

– Suna Karaboghosian, film critic and artistic curator / Armenia.

– Mohamed Said Oma, executive director of “Documentary Africa” / Réunion Island.

– Hala Jalal, writer, director, and producer / Egypt.

Short Films Jury:

Mahdi Fleifel, director / Denmark, Palestine, chair of the committee which includes:

– Andrea Gatopoulos, director / Italy.

– Juliette Cano, programmer at the Critics’ Week at Cannes Film Festival / France.

– Suad Bashnaq, music composer / Jordan, Canada.

– Mostafa El-Kashef, cinematographer and producer / Egypt.

Green Star Award Jury:

– Jana Wahba, producer and cultural activist / Lebanon.

– Mai Al-Ghaity, actress and activist / Egypt.

– Niklas Engstrom, artistic director of the Copenhagen Documentary Film Festival / Denmark.

International Critics (FIPRESCI) Jury:

– Omnia Adel, film critic and programmer / Egypt.

– Pamela Cohen, artistic coordinator, writer, and creative consultant / Germany.

– Ramachandran Pesharat, critic and writer / India.

مع انطلاق فعاليات المهرجان، يتطلع الجميع إلى تجربة سينمائية استثنائية تجمع بين الفن والإنسانية، مما يعكس التزام المهرجان بدعم الإبداع السينمائي وتعزيز مكانة مصر كمركز إقليمي لصناعة السينما.