The fifth edition of El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) will take place at the Red Sea’s touristic resort between 14 and 22 October under strict safety measures against COVID-19.

“We promise to work hard to maintain our contribution in cinema development regionally and internationally with the pandemic’s safety measures in consideration,” GFF Director Intishal Al-Timimi said on Sunday.

The upcoming edition “will follow the same approach that has been adopted in the past 4 years by the festival’s team, thanks to the continuous support of filmmakers and Arab and international cinema professionals, or the public, media and critical rallying,” reads a statement published on the GFF official website.

The fourth edition hosted a rich program, including Jasmila Žbanic’s ‘Quo vadis, Aida?’ which won El Gouna Golden Star for a Narrative Film; ‘Days of Cannibalism’ by Teboho Edkins, which won El Gouna Golden Star for a Documentary Film; ‘Being My Mom’ by Jasmine Trinca, which won El Gouna Golden Star for a Short Film; Kaouther Ben Hania’s ‘The Man Who Sold His Skin’, which won the Best Arab Film Award; and Ameen Nayfeh’s ‘200 Meters’ was awarded the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award.

It was the first public event to take place at the newly established Gouna Conference and Culture Centre, where most of the activities where held, including the opening and closing ceremonies, daily red-carpet events, premieres, and networking events.

The annual event is held in El Gouna, a luxurious Red Sea resort town established by businessman Samih Sawiris. The film festival’s activities are organised by the CineGouna Platform and sponsored by Orascom Development Holding.

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