El Gouna film festival steps back into the spotlight
A Return to Form After a Tumultuous Year
Stability Restored
The seventh edition of the El Gouna Film Festival heralded a triumphant return, regaining its footing after the 2022 cancellation and the postponement of last year’s edition due to regional conflicts. Held from October 24 to November 1 in the idyllic Egyptian resort town, the festival welcomed enthusiastic attendees and prominent figures from the regional and international film industries, all converging as part of the CineGouna market platform.
A Shift in Focus
Balancing glamour with substance
“The program has always been robust, but media coverage usually veers towards the glamour and red carpet events,” shared the festival’s artistic director. Last year, a conscious effort was made to shift the focus, aiming to provide equal coverage to all programs, beyond just the glitz and glam.
This year, that intention was palpable. Filmmakers and industry leaders gathered in a space that, while acutely aware of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, fostered a sense of collaboration, solidarity, and reflection. Discussions were intense, focusing on the future of Middle Eastern and North African cinema, with many panels addressing pertinent solutions and posing critical questions.
Cinema Amidst Conflict
Voices from Palestine
The festival revived its ‘Window on Palestine’ program, initiated amid escalating regional conflicts, with panels and debates that also touched on the situations in Lebanon, Yemen, and Sudan. Understanding and empathy resonated strongly, with a Jordanian producer noting the emotional impact of witnessing Sudan’s struggles despite language barriers. This era of real-time global connectivity was underscored by the statement, “It’s not a question of where I’m from—you and me are equal. If there is a problem, we need to listen.”
The Burden of Representation
Pursuing authenticity
Palestinian filmmakers shed light on the pressure to immediately respond to current events through their art. As one filmmaker poignantly put it, encapsulating the burden of reflecting on and representing personal and national struggles, “I would like to write something about Gaza, but it’s so difficult because it is the place where I was born, where I grew up.”
Commercial and Genre Films Welcomed
Breaking stereotypes
The festival also welcomed a variety of commercial and genre films, challenging Western stereotypes of what Arab cinema should look like. The producer of Egypt’s Film Clinic highlighted these expectations as unfair and unrealistic. “One common critique we hear is that the film could have happened anywhere, which feels restrictive when it comes to storytelling from our region.”
Emphasizing the need for financial viability, another director echoed, “We need to create projects that are attractive. If people are investing money, they want a return.” There is a call for diversity beyond social issue films, arguing for the value of good, serious commercial cinema from the Arab world.
Focusing on Saudi Arabia
A new player in the field
With the establishment of the Red Sea Fund, meant to nurture and support MENA talent, Saudi Arabia has become a focal point for filmmakers seeking new opportunities. Over the past five years, many artists have turned to Saudi for funding and platforms such as the Red Sea Film Festival and the Red Sea Souk for showcasing their work.
“It’s a significant opportunity,” noted a notable filmmaker, sharing that five films from the past year and a half have benefited from this fund. Another director highlighted that filmmakers are naturally gravitating towards Saudi opportunities due to the burgeoning film infrastructure.
Cultural Synergy
The Red Sea Fund’s head spoke deeply about the synergy between Egyptian and Saudi cultures, recognizing the long-standing influence of Egyptian cinema in Saudi Arabia. “We’ve been watching Egyptian stories for many years. Even the Egyptian dialect is widespread here, so it seamlessly integrates into our art.”
From a cinematic cultural perspective, a general manager at MBC Studios emphasized the pleasure of Saudi audiences finally seeing themselves represented on screen after decades of consuming primarily Egyptian productions.
The Rise of Arab Co-Productions
Neighboring collaboration
The region has seen a surge in co-productions, facilitated by increased funding opportunities and new soundstages in countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Local filmmakers are increasingly producing work collaboratively across borders.
“This is a significant shift we’ve observed in the past two or three years,” commented a respected producer. The growing support for local films and co-productions in countries like Jordan, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia has been immensely beneficial.
A New Cinema Paradigm
Emerging filmmakers are vocal about the need to bypass the Western narrative, which has historically depicted the Arab world through a biased lens. One filmmaker expressed a yearning for autonomy, “We need to create our own infrastructure and open more financing options here. The Western perspective is becoming less relevant to us.”
As the El Gouna Film Festival continues to evolve, its role in the cultural and artistic narrative of the region grows ever more significant. By balancing glamour with deep, meaningful content, the festival sets a new standard for how cinema can reflect and influence society.
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