The selected films, which include both narratives and documentaries, represent some of the finest works presented in international cinema over the past year.
El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) has revealed the selection of 13 films that will compete for the “El Gouna Star” awards in its seventh edition, taking place from October 24 to November 1, 2024.
This year’s lineup includes both narrative and documentary films, showcasing some of the finest works from global cinema over the past year.
Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director of GFF, said: “Since its inception, El Gouna Film Festival has aimed to be a cultural bridge and a platform for emerging filmmakers. This year’s selection reaffirms that commitment.”
Andrew Mohsen, Head of Programming at GFF, added: “Our goal is to maintain El Gouna Film Festival’s reputation for hosting the Arab premieres of standout films while highlighting fresh cinematic voices competing for various awards.”
The films come from a range of countries, offering audiences diverse stories and unique experiences that promise a comprehensive cinematic journey. Many of the selected works have already garnered international recognition at prestigious festivals. For instance, the German film Dying, directed by Matthias Glasner, won the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlin Film Festival, and the Lithuanian film Toxic, directed by Saulė Bliuvaitė, won four awards at the Locarno Festival, including the Golden Leopard for Best Film. Stranger, directed by Chongfan Yang, received the Grand Prize in the Proxima Competition at the Karlovy Vary Festival.
The 13 selected films include The Substance by Coralie Fargeat, Soundtrack to a Coup D’etat by Johan Grimonprez, Elementary by Claire Simon, Apprendre by Claire Simon, Stranger by Zhengfan Yang, Girls Will Be Girls by Shuchi Talati, Toxic by Saulė Bliuvaitė, Ghost Trail by Jonathan Millet, Dying by Matthias Glasner, Bird by Andrea Arnold, A Traveler’s Needs by Hong Sangsoo, Caught By the Tides by Jia Zhang-Ke, Flow by Gints Zilbalodis, and Sons by Gustav Müller.
