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Following the remarkable success of its sixth edition after a year-long hiatus, El Gouna Film Festival has unveiled the dates for its much anticipated seventh edition. Scheduled to run from October 24th to November 1st, the festival continues to champion the significance of art on both local and international stages. With each successive edition, the festival broadens its artistic scope, welcoming a diverse array of local and international talent for an enriching exchange.

The GFF is proudly sponsored by Sameh Sawiris, the visionary behind El Gouna, in partnership with Orascom and Naguib Sawiris, the festival’s driving force.

Samih Sawiris iterated his commitment to fostering the growth of the festival, sharing the team’s commitment to delivering an unforgettable cinematic experience through the films screened and the innovative El Gouna Cinema Platform.

Meanwhile, Naguib Sawiris stated that the El Gouna Film Festival “has been a cornerstone for cultural and artistic enrichment in the region since its first edition. As we embark on the seventh edition, we have received strong interest from prominent figures in the cinema industry from various countries such as the United States, China, India, and others to participate in the festival. We look forward to continuing to work as a platform of tangible impact for filmmakers and professionals from around the world to connect, collaborate, and inspire Egyptian and regional cinema.”

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Amr Mansy, the festival’s executive director, commented, “In the previous edition, we worked on transforming the Plaza area into a vibrant hub for industry activities, where specialists gathered to network and discuss upcoming projects. After witnessing the success, we will strive in the upcoming edition to enhance the networking experience and provide a larger and more comprehensive platform for filmmakers. We will also continue to develop the new sections introduced by the festival, including the El Gouna Film Market.”

Discussing the journey of the El Gouna Film Festival, Marianne Khoury, the festival’s artistic director, shared her vision for the seventh edition. She remains committed to raising the bar for the festival by navigating various pillars of the cinema industry and shedding light on diverse voices and narratives, as the GFF is a space encouraging dialogue, creativity, and collaboration. Khoury also stated that the El Gouna Youth Cinema Initiative, first launched last year, will expand in the upcoming edition of the festival.