Ghost Trail shines at El Gouna Film Festival

The El Gouna Film Festival, a prominent cultural event held annually in the scenic Egyptian resort town, concluded its seventh edition on November 1st. This year’s festival was particularly noteworthy, with Jonathan Millet’s gripping thriller, Ghost Trail, taking home the Golden Star for narrative film. The film’s poignant exploration of Syrian exiles in France has captured both critical and public acclaim.

Spotlight on award winners

Best narrative films

Millet’s Ghost Trail was not the only film to gain accolades. Julien Colona’s The Kingdom secured the Silver Star, while Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls earned the Bronze Star. These films were celebrated for their distinctive storytelling and powerful performances.

Recognizing acting talent

Adam Bessa won the award for Best Actor for his role in Ghost Trail, delivering a performance that resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. Meanwhile, the Best Actress award went to Laura Weissmahr for her moving portrayal in Salve Maria directed by Mar Coll.

Best Arab films

The Best Arab Film category also saw significant winners. Laila Abbas’s Thanks for Banking With Us!, a comedy that offers a satirical look at Islamic Sharia Law, garnered major attention. Equally impactful was Meryam Joobeur’s Who Do I Belong To, a drama that intricately explores a Tunisian family’s navigation through their son’s challenging return from war.

Documentary excellence

In the documentary category, Farah Kassem’s We Are Inside won the Golden Star. The Silver Star was awarded to Johan Grimonprez’s Soundtrack to a Coup D’etat, while Silje Evensmo Jacobsen took home the Bronze Star for A New Kind of Wilderness.

Best Arab documentaries

The El Gouna Star for the Best Arab Documentary Film was jointly awarded to Anas Zawahri’s My Memory is Full of Ghosts and The Brink of Dreams by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir, who were also named Variety MENA Talent of the Year.

Short film competition

In the short film category, Maha Haj’s Upshot stood out, earning the Golden Star. The Silver Star was shared between Gonçalo Waddington’s How We Got Mother Back and Mohammed Almughanni’s An Orange From Jaffa. Nay Tabbara’s Ebb & Flow took home the Bronze Star.

Audience favorites and special mentions

Disorder by Lucien Bourjeily, Bane Fakih, Wissam Charaf, and Areej Mahmoud won the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award. Additionally, the festival’s jury gave a special mention to Charles Peccia Galletto for his compelling role in Anne-Sophie Bailly’s My Everything.

Industry impact and support

The festival’s market arm, CineGouna, demonstrated its commitment to nurturing talent by awarding over $400,000 to various film projects. Notably, Jad Chahine’s The Masters of Magic and Beauty and Jihan’s My Father and Qaddafi each received $15,000 for development and post-production support, respectively. Additionally, Michelle Keserwany’s Amara was awarded $50,000 for sales and distribution by MAD Solutions.

Amr Mansi, co-founder and CEO of the festival, emphasized the critical role of regional film and cultural institutions in supporting CineGouna, reinforcing El Gouna’s status as a birthplace of globally recognized cinematic projects. Ahmed Shawky, head of CineGouna Funding, highlighted the impactful support and opportunities provided to filmmakers, enabling them to create and promote their works effectively.

El Gouna juries and their roles

The festival featured distinguished juries across various categories:

• Feature Narrative Jury: Chaired by Indian director Candida Das, with notable members such as French critic Charles Tesson, German actress Sibel Kekilli, Algerian director Sofia Djama, and Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby.
• Feature Documentary Jury: Included Eliane Rehab, French producer Jérôme Paillard, Tunisian director Nejib Belkadhi, German director Steffi Niederzoll, and Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Farah.
• Short Film Jury: Comprised of British-Egyptian actor Amir El-Masry, Algerian-Palestinian-French filmmaker Lina Soualem, Egyptian actress Amina Khalil, Filipino filmmaker Sam Maniacs, and Jordanian actress Rakeen Saad.

Looking ahead

The El Gouna Film Festival continues to serve as a vital platform for filmmakers, offering opportunities for recognition, networking, and funding. The festival’s commitment to celebrating cinematic excellence and supporting new voices in the industry ensures its continued relevance and impact.

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