The El Gouna Film Festival has unveiled the members of the Feature Narrative, Feature Documentary, and Short Film Competition Jury. Films showcased in the festival’s programme will compete for prestigious awards, including the El Gouna Green Star, Cinema for Humanity Award, FIPRESCI, and NETPAC Awards. This panel of jurors, with diverse expertise and perspectives, is set to assess the exceptional entries in these categories.
The jurors across various categories are gearing up for the formidable task of evaluating outstanding films.
The sixth edition is scheduled for December 14 to 21.
The Feature Narrative Competition jury boasts a lineup featuring cinema scholar Anup Singh, Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak, internationally acclaimed actress and human rights activist Yasmine Al-Massri, French-Lebanese actress Manal Issa, and Egyptian filmmaker Omar El Zohairy.
Film producer Catherine Dussart, American film director Jehane Noujaim, pivotal Sudanese cinema figure Ibrahim Shaddad, Egyptian filmmaker Sherief Elkatsha, and Franco–Moroccan film producer Lamia Chraibi will form the jury for Feature Documentary and El Gouna Green Star.
The Short Film Competition jury includes filmmaker and artist Lucy Kerr, Tunisian actress Mariam Al Ferjani, dedicated short film curator Céline Roustan, British-Lebanese actress Razane Jammal, and Lebanese filmmaker Wassim Geagea.
The FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Jury, tasked with recognising exceptional cinema from debut filmmakers in Africa, Asia, or South America, comprises film critic Ola Salwa, South African film critic Stephen Aspeling, and Egyptian journalist and film critic Zein Alabedin Khairy.
The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Jury, dedicated to Asian cinema, features leading Indian film critic, Shubhra Gupta, accomplished Norwegian Producer Ingrid Lill Høgtun, and scriptwriter, anthropologist, and TV host Dr Malaak Swed.
Speaking about the jury members, Intishal Al Timimi, Director of the El Gouna Film Festival, said, “We are grateful for the support of these accomplished personalities from the world of cinema. Their presence and dedication ensure that the festival remains a vital platform for voices that need to be heard. We wish them a productive and inspiring experience at the festival.”
The El Gouna Film Festival also highlighted that the audiences themselves will serve as the jury for the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award. Instituted since the festival’s inaugural edition in 2017, this award is bestowed upon a film that exemplifies a humanitarian theme. Feature-length films across all sections have been nominated for this People’s Choice award.
The El Gouna Film Festival is poised to showcase a diverse selection of films, celebrating the artistry and storytelling prowess of filmmakers from around the globe.
