The film festival will also be introducing a new section, CineGouna Shorts, dedicated to short films.
As the seventh edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) approaches, CineGouna has announced the rebranding of two of its major initiatives to reflect the continued growth and development of its programmes.
CineGouna Funding, previously known as CineGouna SpringBoard, now emphasises its role as a vital source of financial and artistic support for Arab film projects in development and post-production. Approximately 20 Arab film projects will be selected to receive mentorship and exposure to a network of film professionals, funding entities, and festival representatives. These projects will also be eligible for cash and in-kind awards through tailored one-on-one meetings designed to meet the specific needs of each filmmaker.
CineGouna Forum, formerly known as CineGouna Bridge, will continue to provide valuable industry discussions, masterclasses, and workshops. The rebranding highlights its mission to advance professional development and foster insightful dialogue within the film community. New activities include roundtable discussions with executives and policymakers, as well as short panels under the “In Focus” series, which will explore film industry topics from various perspectives.
In addition to these changes, other CineGouna programmes, such as Emerge and Market, will retain their names while expanding their activities to better serve the industry. CineGouna Emerge is evolving into an umbrella programme for the festival’s initiatives supporting young and emerging filmmakers. It will feature the second edition of its namesake programme and launch CineGouna Rising Stars, targeting up-and-coming Arab and North African filmmakers who have already shown potential in their careers.
This year, the festival is also introducing CineGouna Shorts, a new section dedicated to short films, launching with a funding competition supported by O West for Real Estate.
Amr Mansi, Executive Director of GFF, explained: “The rebranding of our key programmes is a strategic step to enhance clarity and focus. CineGouna Funding and CineGouna Forum now more accurately reflect the essence of our initiatives, ensuring we effectively communicate our support for filmmakers at all stages of their careers and our commitment to professional development.”
