El Gouna Film Festival Unveils Ninth Edition Lineup
The ninth El Gouna Film Festival will run narrative, documentary and short-film competitions, mixing Arab directors with titles from Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Shanghai.
Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival has announced the program for its ninth edition, with competitions for narrative, documentary and short films, according to Variety. The lineup includes titles from Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Shanghai, alongside emerging Arab filmmakers.
In the Feature Narrative Competition is 'Safe Exit', directed by Mohammed Hammad, whose debut 'Withered Green' screened at the festival's inaugural edition in 2017. The film is Hammad's sophomore feature, arriving a decade after that debut. 'Safe Exit' premiered at this year's Berlinale and is produced by Kholoud Saad, Dora Bouchoucha, Dina Farouk, Ibrahim El-Batout and May Odeh.
Danielle Arbid's 'Only Rebels Win', which opened the Panorama section at this year's Berlinale, is also in the lineup. Hiam Abbass plays Suzanne in the film.
Other titles in the program
Miroslav Terzić's '3 Weeks After' won the Europa Cinemas Label at Karlovy Vary. Yassine El Idrissi's 'Halima' took best director and best actress for Khadija Amari at the Shanghai International Film Festival.
Ahmed Hassouna's 'Citizen Osama', a Venice premiere, has been selected as Palestine's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards. The film features photojournalist Osama Al-Ashi.
Amir El-Shenawy's 'The Return of Captain Kabonga' follows street wrestler Ashraf 'Kabonga' Mahrous in Ismailia.
Quick answers
Which films are in the El Gouna Film Festival Feature Narrative Competition?
The lineup includes Mohammed Hammad's 'Safe Exit', Danielle Arbid's 'Only Rebels Win', Miroslav Terzić's '3 Weeks After', Yassine El Idrissi's 'Halima', Ahmed Hassouna's 'Citizen Osama' and Amir El-Shenawy's 'The Return of Captain Kabonga'.
Which festival did 'Safe Exit' premiere at?
'Safe Exit' premiered at this year's Berlinale.
Which film has been selected as Palestine's entry for the 2027 Academy Awards?
Ahmed Hassouna's 'Citizen Osama', a Venice premiere, has been selected as Palestine's official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards.