The El Gouna Film Festival concluded its fourth edition on Friday with a closing ceremony that was held at the Gouna Conference and Culture Center.
During the closing ceremony, the winning films, that collected the festival’s $224,000 worth prizes, were announced. Media presenter and actress Nardine Farag presented the event, and the exceptional Egyptian actor Khaled El Sawy was honoured and awarded a Career Achievement Award as part of the ceremony’s activities, according to a press release.
El Sawy spoke of his happiness with the honour, especially as it comes from the El Gouna Film Festival which he considers one of the most important cinematic events in the entire Arab region.
In addition, the Khaled Bichara Award for Independent Filmmakers in Egypt went to Hamlet from the Slums by Ahmed Fawzi-Saleh. The award will be awarded annually to support young Egyptian filmmakers, with an estimated value of $10,000.
As for the various official competition awards and their winners, they are:
Feature Narrative Competition
El Gouna Golden Star for Narrative Film (Trophy, certificate, and $50,000)
Quo vadis, Aida? by Jasmila Žbanic
El Gouna Silver Star for Narrative Film (Trophy, certificate, and $25,000)
Bad Tales by Damiano D’Innocenzo and Fabio D’Innocenzo
El Gouna Bronze Star for Narrative Film (Trophy, certificate, and $15,000)
In Between Dying by Hilal Baydarov
El Gouna Star for Best Arab Narrative Film (Trophy, certificate, and $20,000)
The Man Who Sold His Skin by Kaouther Ben Hania
El Gouna Star for Best Actor (Trophy, certificate)
Ali Suliman, 200 Meters
El Gouna Star for Best Actress (Trophy, certificate)
Jasna Duricic, Quo vadis, Aida?
Special Jury Mention
Oasis by Ivan Ikic
Feature Documentary Competition
El Gouna Golden Star for Documentary Film (Trophy, certificate, and $30,000)
Days of Cannibalism by Teboho Edkins
El Gouna Silver Star for Documentary Film (Trophy, certificate, and $15,000)
Softie by Sam Soko
El Gouna Bronze Star for Documentary Film (Trophy, certificate, and $7,500)
Truffle Hunters by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw
El Gouna Star for Best Arab Documentary Film (Trophy, certificate, and $10,000)
Their Algeria by Lina Soualem
Short Film Competition
El Gouna Golden Star for Short Film (Trophy, certificate, and $15,000)
Being My Mom by Jasmine Trinca
El Gouna Silver Star for Short Film (Trophy, certificate, and $7,500)
Blue Frontier by Ivan Milosavljević
El Gouna Bronze Star for Short Film (Trophy, certificate, and $4,000)
Sër Bi by Moly Kane
El Gouna Star for Best Arab Short Film (Trophy, certificate, and $5,000)
I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face by Sameh Alaa
Cinema for Humanity Audience Award
The festival’s Audience Award for a film exemplifying humanitarian themes (Trophy, certificate, and $20,000)
200 Meters by Ameen Nayfeh
NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film
In Between Dying by Hilal Baydarov
FIPRESCI Award
200 Meters by Ameen Nayfeh
