Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival Rescheduled Due To Israel-Hamas Conflict
Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), the sixth edition of which was due to kick off this Friday, has been rescheduled due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“In light of the deeply troubling circumstances resulting in the loss of innocent lives, El Gouna Film Festival management has taken the decision to postpone the festival to the 27th of October – the 2nd of November, 2023,” the festival said in a statement.
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“The GFF team remains committed to hosting the festival, using this opportunity to reinforce and amplify our central theme, ‘Cinema for Humanity’. This theme champions unity and empathy, and we’re dedicated to weaving it throughout all festival activities.”
The decision to postpone the festival comes just three days after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel out of Gaza, killing more than 900 people and kidnapping more than 100 others.
Israel declared a complete siege of Gaza and has also launched a bombing campaign on the Palestinian territory, which has killed at least 700 people. Israeli troops are now massing on the Israel-Gaza border ahead of a potential land invasion.
“We firmly believe in the profound power of cinema to unite people, as we also understand the weight of the current situation and the importance of collective reflection. It is crucial that we provide space for healing, understanding, and solidarity to prevail,” continued the El Gouna statement.
“Our commitment to showcasing the impactful work of our talented youth and emphasizing the transformative nature of cinema, remains un-wavered. We sincerely appreciate your understanding as we navigate these challenging times. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you to the 6th edition of El Gouna Film Festival.”
The El Gouna Film Festival, which had been gearing up for a comeback edition after a one-year hiatus, takes place in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of El Gouna.
The event was spearheaded by the resort’s creator Samih Sawiris and his brother media and property tycoon Naguib Sawiris in 2017.
El Gouna is not geographically close to Egypt’s border with Gaza but tensions have been running high in the country and across the entire Middle East region following Saturday’s attack.
A policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian tour guide in the city of Alexandria on Sunday morning.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has warned against a “vicious cycle” of violence amid fears of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with its 2.1 million inhabitants unable to leave the strip, and wider instability across the region.
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