The El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) is organizing a special program to honor late director Youssef Chahine, considered to be one of the pillars of cinematic creativity in the Arab world and beyond.
Chahine, whose 100th birthday will be on January 25, left behind a timeless legacy and an indelible mark on generations of filmmakers with his unique vision and brilliant body of work.
The program will feature retrospective screenings of one of Chahine’s most prominent films, along with a selection of movies by directors who were influenced by his art and vision.
The festival will soon announce the full details of these films and the screening schedule.
This tribute confirms Chahine’s status as the spiritual father of a new wave of Arab cinema and as one of the most prominent voices to transform cinema into a space for free expression, artistic boldness, and social commitment.
A platform for culture and creativity
The GFF is one of the leading festivals in the Middle East.
It aims to showcase a selection of Arab and international films to a passionate audience, foster cultural exchange through this global art form, and build bridges of cooperation between filmmakers both locally and internationally.
The festival is also committed to discovering new talent and developing the Arab film industry, particularly through its industrial arm, CineGouna.
This year’s edition includes three official competitions (Feature Narrative, Feature Documentary, and Short Film), in addition to the official selection out of competition and a special program.
The festival will screen around 70 of the latest and most prominent productions, with prizes totaling US$230,000, along with honorary awards like the GFF Star and certificates.
The festival will also continue to present the Cinema for Humanity Award for feature films with a humanitarian theme and the GFF Green Star for films that address environmental issues.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
