Eight distinctive short films were chosen from a pool of over 230 submissions by a panel of industry veterans.
CineGouna, the industry platform of the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), has revealed the projects selected for the inaugural edition of CineGouna Shorts, an initiative designed to elevate the short film landscape in Egypt. CineGouna Shorts will run from October 25 to 31 as part of the 7th GFF (October 24 to November 1).
This year’s spotlight is on the programme’s highly anticipated production awards, sponsored by O West—Orascom Development’s fully integrated town in west Cairo. With a massive prize pool of EGP 2,250,000, one of the Arab region’s most significant for short films, the awards will be distributed among three standout projects, underscoring the prestige and importance of the awards: EGP 1,000,000 for first place, EGP 750,000 for second, and EGP 500,000 for third.
From a pool of over 230 submissions, a panel of industry veterans selected eight distinctive short films currently in production. This year’s CineGouna Shorts Awards jury consists of Egyptian director and Producer Sherif El Bendary, Palestinian producer and director, May Odeh, and Egyptian director Sameh Alaa. The chosen projects reflect a spectrum of voices from seasoned filmmakers and emerging talents. The filmmakers will pitch their work to a prestigious jury alongside a network of producers, distributors, sales agents, and festival programmers. Beyond the pitch, CineGouna Shorts also provides mentorship sessions and strategic meetings to develop further and fund each project, ensuring they reach their highest potential.
Commenting on the shortlisted films, Amr Mansi, Co-founder, and Executive Director of the El Gouna Film Festival, said: “It’s fascinating to see our newest initiative take off with such strong, original submissions. GFF is unwavering in its commitment to championing the Egyptian film industry by creating platforms that nurture and amplify local talent.”
Mariam Naoum, Head of CineGouna Shorts, added: “Short films have always been a goldmine for fresh talent and authentic storytelling, acting as ambassadors for Egyptian cinema in international film festivals. This year’s selection is a testament to Egypt’s filmmaking community’s creativity and raw passion.”
Tamer Dewidar, CEO of O West, Makadi Heights, and Byoum, added: “Since last year, we’ve been committed to supporting the CineGouna platform and nurturing Egypt’s arts and culture scene. Watching these film projects flourish reaffirms our belief that investing in cinema isn’t just about entertainment but fueling a creative revolution.”
The Selected Projects for CineGouna Shorts 2024 are The Bar Girl(Director: Yasser Naeim, Producer: Doaa Saber), Dead Tired(Director: Beshoy Youssef, Producer: Ramy El Gabry), In Such Moments, We Cry(Director: Ahmed Sobhy, Producer: Marwa Tammam), The Last Performance(Director: Abanoub Nabil, Producer: Ruba Atiyeh), The Last Request (Director: Hozifa Abdelhalim, Producer: Noura Abd Elrahman), Lemon Trees (Director: Mariam Nasser, Producer: Mohamed Gaber), A Little ‘Rosy’ Journey (Director: Ahmed El-Hawarey, Producer: Hala Lotfy) and, Yellow (Director: Sherouk Helal, Producer: Ahmed Elshebiny).
