GFF Returns With a New Vision as a Year-Round Cultural Institution

El Gouna Film Festival is back with a new visual identity and a broader ambition. At today’s official press conference for its ninth edition, running October 15th to 23rd, the festival laid out what it hopes will be its next chapter.

El Gouna’s Founder and Chairman of the GFF Board of Directors opened with a laugh, as usual, pointing to the importance of the festival growing into an institution that can outlive any single name, even his own.
Amr Mansi, the festival’s co-founder and Executive Director, echoed the sentiment, announcing GFF’s intention to evolve into a year-round cultural institution, extending its programming beyond El Gouna and beyond the festival’s nine-day run.

Newly appointed Artistic Director Andrew Mohsen, who previously headed GFF’s programming, followed with this year’s numbers: 36 feature films and 17 shorts representing 73 countries, with further additions to the selection still possible. Meanwhile El Gouna CEO Mohamed Amer championed the importance of arts and culture and film festival in experiencing cities and towns, such as, of course, El Gouna.

Last but certainly not least, festival icon and Advisory Board Member Youssra reflected on GFF’s nine-year journey, pointing to what lies ahead and giving a special shoutout to a masterclass by acclaimed filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah.