El Gouna Film Festival Brings Back Window on Palestine Strand

After canceling the 2022 edition, the El Gouna Film Festival team was looking forward to returning in full force in 2023 but was faced with having to postpone the festival three times due to the war in Gaza. During the scaled-down edition held in December, the festival responded to the conflict by programming a special strand titled Window on Palestine, which included films such as Farah Nabulsi’s “The Teacher” and panel discussions on Palestinian filmmaking in times of crisis. 

With the war still ongoing as the festival returns for its seventh edition, which will take place in the Egyptian resort town between Oct. 24-Nov. 1, the festival team decided to bring back its Window of Palestine program for a second year. Among the selected Palestinian titles are Laila Abbas’ “Thanks for Banking With Us!,” Maha Haj’s Locarno prize-winning short “Upshot” and Mohammed Almughanni’s “An Orange From Jaffa,” which tells the story of a young Palestinian trying to cross an Israeli checkpoint and took the Special Jury Prize at the Clermont-Ferrand Intl. Short Film Festival.

“In response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, we are renewing the Window on Palestine program at this year’s festival,” said El Gouna’s official announcement. “We will showcase both feature and short films that offer a window into the Palestinian experience. These films reflect the resilience, humanity and strength of a people facing genocide. Now, more than ever, their voices must be heard, and their stories told.”

(Editor’s note: According to the BBC, Israel has described claims of genocide as “wholly unfounded” and based on “biased and false claims.”)

“Palestine and Lebanon are very present in the program, from the ‘Window on Palestine’ section to the films selected in the general program and the members of the jury,” artistic director Marianne Khoury told Variety, taking the time to mention how the festival will also shine a light on Lebanese filmmaking as the conflicts expand into the country.

When asked about the importance of having a program focused on Palestine at an Arab festival like El Gouna, Khoury replied it is “extremely” important and a current curatorial priority. “You cannot be a festival in the region and not be part of what is happening in the world. This is touching us all, not only Palestinians and the Lebanese. We are all involved, so it is extremely important. I couldn’t see it any other way.”

Head of programming Andrew Mohsen said he didn’t imagine having to program the strand again in 2024, over a year since the conflicts began in Palestine. “What happened last year has only escalated. The massacres are still happening and nothing has changed. We felt that we have to continue to raise the voice of Palestinian filmmakers and show that, even though they are struggling to live, they are still working and trying to deliver films.”

“What we tried to do, on top of ‘Window on Palestine,’ is to have at least short films that are recent and can show how filmmakers are trying to say something under these circumstances.”

Mohsen emphasized how important it felt to the festival to have a space to talk about the present and future of Palestinian filmmaking in times of conflict and to support filmmakers who needed a forum at such distressing times. “All the filmmakers I’ve met this past year understand how difficult the situation is but want to be part of the festival and raise awareness of the situation. Festivals are about entertainment and culture but this conversation is also part of a film festival. We need—and will—continue to support these voices.”

(Editor’s note: The war in Gaza began with the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, during which about 1,200 people were killed – mostly civilians – and 251 were taken hostage. Since October at least 42,000 Palestinians are reported to have been killed in Gaza, according to its Hamas-run health ministry.)