Summary of what happened at the end of the El Gouna Film Festival

The El Gouna Film Festival concluded its 2023 session with an awards ceremony that included celebrating many distinguished cinematic achievements from around the world.

Despite the many challenges, this year's festival screened 90 films, which captured the attention of audiences and industry workers alike. As the curtain came down on this year's session, the winners were announced in various categories for their distinguished contributions to the world of cinema.

Tyrese Gibson and the El Gouna Green Star Award Nardine Farag, presenter of the closing ceremony of the El Gouna Festival, invited international star Tyrese Gibson to present the Green Star of El Gouna Award and the festival screened a film about him. The film The Buriti Flower won the Green Star of El Gouna Award, while Egyptian star Mohamed Karim stepped up to help Tyrese Gibson speak Arabic.

American artist Tyrese Gibson gave an emotional speech while he was present at the closing ceremony of the 6th session of the El Gouna Film Festival, mentioning his relationship with the Middle East, his late friend Paul Walker.

Tyrese Gibson thanked the El Gouna Film Festival, saying: “When I lost my friend Paul Walker, I became very unhappy, and when I returned home for Christmas after the shock of losing him, I was praying and asking God, ‘What should I do to find a smile again?’ And when I went to the Middle East, I smiled.” again".

Tyrese Gibson added: "And now I feel the same happiness that I felt 9 years ago. I would like to say thank you very much because you are so loyal and giving, and these are not things I am used to when I travel around the world. Thank you for making me smile again. This is my birthday."

El Gouna Festival Awards The “Netpac Award” for best Asian film went to “From Abdul to Laila” by director Leila Al-Bayati, an Iraqi-origin director residing in France, and the “Febrissy Award” went to the film “Hollywood Gate,” directed by Ibrahim Nashat, an Egyptian director residing in Germany.

The film (Larva), directed by Michel and Noel Keserwani, won the El Gouna Star Award for Best Arab Short Film. The El Gouna Bronze Star for Short Film also went to “Finally...The Promised Day,” directed by Carolina Vergara from Argentina, and the Jordanian “The Red Sea is Crying,” directed by Fares Rajoub. El Gouna Silver Star for Short Film, and “I Promise” by director Sam Manaxa from the Philippines won the El Gouna Golden Star for Short Film.

Regarding the awards for the feature documentary competition, the Brazilian film “Crora” directed by João Salaviza and Rene Nader Misura won the El Gouna Green Star Award, and the El Gouna Star Award for Best Arab Documentary Film went to “Mashatat” directed by Sonia Ben Salama, and the El Gouna Bronze Star Award for Cinema. The documentary “On the Adamant Boat” was directed by Nicolas Philibert from France, and the jury decided to award two distinguished films the El Gouna Silver Star Award for Documentary Film, namely “Non-Alignment: Scenes from the Labudovic Chronicles” directed by Mila Turajlić from Serbia, and “Seven Winters in Tehran.” » by German director Steffi Niederzoll. The El Gouna Golden Star Award for Best Documentary Film also went to “Hollywood Gate,” and the “Audience Award” went to the Sudanese film “Goodbye Julia,” directed by Mohamed Kordofani.

The feature film jury announced the Best Actor Award for Patsog Ortsikhe, for the film “If I Could Drown Steadily” by director Zoljargal Purvdash from Mongolia, and Parwin Rajabi won the Best Actress Award for the film “Fleeting Happiness” by director Sina Muhammad from Iraq.

The Brazilian feature film “A Strange Path,” directed by Guto Parente, won the El Gouna Bronze Star Award, and “A Greyhound and a Girl,” directed by Enzo Dalo, won the Silver Award for Narrative Film, while the South Korean film “In Our Day,” directed by Hong Sang, won the Gold Award.

Honoring Christopher Lambert The festival honored French-American artist Christopher Lambert , winner of the César Award.

Christopher Lambert said in his speech: “What can I say? It is a wonderful way to introduce me. I entered the film career because I wanted to act since I was 12 years old. I could not imagine how a camera made of metal could put the soul of an actor on a screen.”

The Highlander star added: “And I am here with you because we need humanity, and this is one of the reasons I entered the field of acting. For me, acting and directing are about entertainment, and this means going to other places, and cinema for humanity is what I am talking about, and it is linked to the El Gouna Festival, and finally I say, you are a wonderful audience.” .

El Gouna Festival honors the departed In its sixth session, at the closing ceremony of the festival, the El Gouna Film Festival paid tribute to the late stars of art, in honor of their generosity, namely Mustafa Darwish, Ashraf Abdel Ghafour , Nahid Farid Shawky, Ashraf Moslehi, Tariq Abdel Aziz, director Ahmed Al-Badri, and director Ahmed Sami Al-Adl.

Cairokee sings "That Case" The " Cairokee " team also performed a singing segment at the ceremony, where the team presented the song "That Cause and I am a Star." The concert was directed by Hisham Yehia, creative Omar Qassem, decorated by Karim Al Animal, and presented by Nardin Farag.