"El Gouna" in "corner" For the third year in a row

The El Gouna Film Festival announced the continuation of fruitful cooperation between the El Gouna Film Festival and Zawya Cinema in Cairo for the third year in a row.

 

 The initiative comes in light of the keenness of both parties to enhance cultural and artistic exchange and expand the geographic cinematic scope of the festival to include larger audience segments; By providing a unique cinematic experience to cinema audiences in general, and fans of independent films and alternative cinema in particular.

The El Gouna Film Festival is showing 10 of its films at Zawya Cinema in Cairo on the sidelines of the “El Gouna Which was launched in 2023, and which will open its doors from the 19th to the 25th of this October.

Marianne Khoury, the artistic director of the festival, said:

 

"When we prepare the festival’s programming, we do not lose sight of the lovers of the festival for a single moment. Cinema in Cairo, and Zawya audiences in particular. “El Gouna Time after time, the capital has a clear interest in artistic films, which find an outlet in the festival programme. We are happy that during the past two years of the program we have witnessed several full-scale screenings, and now the public is waiting for the program of films shown at Zawya, as a clear extension of the festival’s program in the capital. “

 

The cooperation provides a unique opportunity for cinema audiences in Cairo to watch a selection of films shown within the activities of the El Gouna Film Festival through Zawya Cinema; Which is one of the most important platforms for displaying independent films in Egypt. The initiative also aims to expand the scope of the films participating in the festival, and provide a different experience, with a special focus on young audiences.

The films shown at Zawya Cinema are:

 

Blue Moon – Blue Moon 

Directed by Richard Linklater | United States, Ireland | English

 

The film takes place in 1943, where we follow one night in the life of lyricist Lorenz Hart. The film was shown at the Berlin Film Festival and won the Silver Bear Award for Best Supporting Performance for actor Andrew Scott.

 

 

How to Build a Library

Directed by Maya Leko, Christopher King | Kenya, United States | English, Swahili 

 

The film follows two women who leave their jobs to renovate an abandoned library in Nairobi, turning it into a vibrant tech space with the help of artists. And thinkers.

 

 

A Simple Accident – It Was Just an Accident 

Directed by Jaafar Panahi | Iran, France, Luxembourg | Persian

 

The Palme d’Or-winning film by director Jaafar Panahi shows a simple incident leading to a series of escalating consequences.

 

 

If I’m Lucky – Lucky Lu

Directed by Lloyd Lee Choi | United States, Canada | English

 

The film follows a delivery worker in New York City whose life is turned upside down after he loses his only source of income.

 

 

Poet – A Poet

Directed by Simon Mesa Soto | Colombia, Germany, Sweden | Spanish

 

The story of an aging poet who suffers from a psychological disorder, who finds new meaning in his life when he helps a teenage girl discover her talent. He won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard competition, at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

 

Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk

Directed by Sepideh Farsi | France | Arabic, English

 

An intimate narration of life under siege in Gaza through video calls with photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, who was martyred the day after the film was selected for screening at the Film Festival. It was.

 

 

Resurrection

Directed by Bi Gan | China, France | The Mandarin

 

In a world where humanity has lost the ability to dream, a monster clings to the fading illusions of the dream world, until a woman emerges with the rare ability to see these illusions for what they are. The film won a special award at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

 

Sentimental Value

Directed by Joachim Trier | Norway, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, France | Danish, English 

 

The film explores a sensitive family drama that follows a complex reunion between a father and his two daughters after years of estrangement. The film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. It is noteworthy that director Joachim Trier’s previous film, “The Worst Person in the World” It was screened at the El Gouna Film Festival in 2021.

 

 

Sound of Falling

Directed by Masha Shilinsky | Germany | German

 

Four girls, separated by a century, spend their youth on the same farm, and as the house develops, a pattern of similarities emerges between their lives. The film won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

 

Father, Mother, Sister, Brother

Directed by Jim Jarmusch | United States | English

 

A poetic, satirical film about four dysfunctional brothers who come back together after years of estrangement, in a tale of memory, reconciliation, and changing family dynamics. The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

The film, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, explores the ambiguous connections between  Adult children and their distant parents, as well as between siblings. 

 

 

The El Gouna Film Festival continues to consolidate its position as one of the main players in the Egyptian film scene, through live initiatives such as “El Gouna X “Zawya”, transmits selections from the festival’s most prominent films to the Zawya screen and its audience in the heart of Cairo, so that this cooperation consolidates the role of cinema as a means of cultural dialogue, empathy, and creative exchange.

 

 

About El Gouna Festival Film Festival

 

One of the leading festivals in the Middle East and North Africa region, which aims to display a selection of films from around the world, paying special attention to Arab cinema, and providing a platform for dialogue and communication between cultures through the art of cinema. The festival also seeks to connect Arab filmmakers with their international counterparts, enhance opportunities for cooperation and exchange, in addition to supporting the film industry in the region and discovering new talents that enrich the cinematic scene.

 

 

About Cinema Zawya 

 

Zawya is an independent cinema platform in Cairo, launched in 2014 after 6 consecutive successful editions of the European Film Panorama. Zawya’s program is divided between screenings of cinematic releases and various programmes, and includes a selection of films ranging from feature films, short films, documentaries, experimental films and retrospective shows. In addition to its regular programme, Zawya organizes two festivals  On an annual basis, they are: European Film Panorama and Zawya Short Film Festival.

 

In 2015, Zawya launched its branch specializing in film distribution; With the aim of creating an alternative distribution model that contributes to creating bridges between alternative films and their audiences. After four successful years of operating and managing a single screen at Odeon Cinema, Zawya moved its headquarters in September 2018 to Karim Cinema in the downtown district; This enables two display screens to accommodate a total of 387 chairs. Zawya is a member of the Alternative Arab Screens Network (NAS) and is supported by Misr International Films and New Century Cinemas.