El Gouna Film Festival launches a new platform to support Arab drama

The El Gouna Film Festival expanded its interests; To include the production of Arab series and drama. In the details, and within the framework of preparation for the ninth session of the “Festival”, which will be held in the city of El Gouna overlooking the Red Sea coast, between the fifteenth and the twenty-third of next October, the “Festival” administration launched a new platform specialized in developing and marketing Arab series projects, under the title: “CineGouna Series”, led by screenwriter and producer Maryam Naoum; As part of the “Festival’s” direction to expand its support for the dramatic content industry in the Arab region.

The launch of the specialized platform comes; In response to the significant growth witnessed by the series sector and digital platforms in the Arab region, and the increasing need for professional spaces that combine project development, “networking” between screenwriters and producers, and direct access to platforms and decision-makers in the television drama industry.

The “Cine Gouna Series” platform aims to support Arab screenwriters, through a six-week online development program that includes intensive development sessions, individual guidance, as well as preparation for marketing and project presentations.

During the festival, the “program” will also include a market and a specialized professional platform, which includes project presentation sessions, individual meetings, round tables, and “networking” events that bring together participants with producers, exhibition platforms, television channels, and content development officials from the region and the world.

 

 

 

 

 

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Decision makers’ vision:

Scriptwriter Maryam Naoum, President of Cine Gouna Series, said that the presence of a large number of Arab talents, capable of presenting strong and different series projects, was a catalyst for the launch of the new platform, but what is missing in many projects is the specialized development system, and their real connection to the market. Hence the idea of ​​“Cine Gouna Series” came, not only as a development program, but as an integrated space linking writing and development, understanding the requirements of platforms, audiences, and marketing, and direct meetings with those in charge of the industry.

While the artistic director of the El Gouna Film Festival, Andrew Mohsen, said: The great development that we are witnessing on the Arab level in the series industry has made the establishment of a specialized section in this field a necessity, and an addition that is the first of its kind in film festivals in Egypt. This platform aims to become a meeting point between Arab writers and experts from different countries of the world, which enhances the “festival’s” presence in this industry.

Submission dates…and the first copy:

The administration of the El Gouna International Film Festival has set June 30 as the deadline. To submit projects to participate in the “Cine Gouna Series” platform, where a limited group of projects will be selected; To participate in the first edition of the program, which includes an online development laboratory, during the months of August and September 2026, to be concluded with presentations and professional meetings, within the activities of the “El Gouna Film Festival”, next October.

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