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Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy said securing international sales remains a challenge for Arab films, as he presented two features at El Gouna Film Festival (October 24-November 1).

Hefzy, head and co-founder of the Cairo-based production company Film Clinic, produced Egyptian filmmaker Jaylan Auf’s feature debut The Inevitable Journey To Find A Wedding Dress, which premieres in El Gouna’s narrative competition. He was also present for a retrospective screening of his own writing debut Snakes And Ladders (2001).

The seasoned writer/producer noted that, while many Arabic and Egyptian films tour festivals worldwide and often win awards, securing sales is problematic.

The seventh edition of Egypt’s prestigious El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) kicked off on Thursday with a star-studded opening ceremony. The event celebrated a return to form after smaller events in recent years. Fireworks lit up the night sky as international celebrities arrived on the red carpet in El Gouna, a resort town on the Red Sea.

A highlight of the evening was honoring veteran Egyptian actor and filmmaker Mahmoud Hemida. Festival director Inas ElDeghedy called Hemida “an artist with the soul of a child” who always took chances. In his acceptance speech, Hemida expressed joy that the festival founders fulfilled a dream of his by creating a cultural and cinema hub in Marsa Alam. Although Hemida couldn’t build the facility himself, Naguib and Samih Sawiris brought his vision to life through the festival.

Stars from around the world attended the opening, including “Game of Thrones” actress Sibel Kekilli,...

Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (Gff) opened its 7th edition on Thursday (October 26) with a star-packed red carpet, calls to end ongoing conflict and an honorary award for veteran actor and producer Mahmoud Hemida.

Returning in full after a more subdued edition last year and cancellation in 2022, the opening ceremony took place under clear skies and fireworks at the Plaza Theatre in the Egyptian resort town of El Gouna.

Those in attendance included Indian actress and director Nandita Das, Game Of Thrones star Sibel Kekilli, and former Cannes March du Film executive director Jerome Paillard, all of whom sit...

Cannes, France – 18 May 2023 – In celebration of female voices in film, the Red Sea International Film Festival (RedSeaIFF) and Vanity Fair Europe hosted the Women's Stories Gala event this evening, shining a light on the achievements of women both on and behind the camera who are helping shape the film industry and inspire a new generation of talent in Saudi Arabia, Africa, and India.

During the event held alongside the 76th Cannes Film Festival at the spectacular Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes, the RedSeaIFF and Vanity Fair Europe honoured six women making significant strides, breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations.

They include; Fatima AlBanawi – Saudi actor, director and writer who received international acclaim for her leading role in Barakah Meets Barakah (2016) and broke cinema records with her latest AlHamour (2023). She has played an array of roles ranging from the road-trip thriller Route 10, family drama Champions,...

Egyptian supermodel and rising actor Tara Emad appeared this year in the Arab-language version of the U.S. drama series “Suits,” and in October was appointed the ambassador for Chanel, becoming the first Arab model to feature in the brand’s advertising. Ever since she was a little girl, Emad has had a comfortable relationship with the camera, she tells Variety at the Red Sea Film Festival, where she attended the premiere of “All Roads Lead to Rome.”

“My family always says that whenever they would take pictures of us as a family, I was always there and ready and looking at the camera and already posing,” Emad says. “I was never shy.” She booked her first modeling gig at 14 with a magazine shoot, and was surprised to find herself on the cover. “A decade later, I was still modeling and traveling the world,” she says.

She was soon pursuing...

Olive Stone voiced support for Saudi Arabia at the opening Thursday of the second edition of country’s Red Sea International Film Festival, which he is attending as president of the international jury.

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The Oscar-winning director said Saudi Arabia was a country that is “misunderstood in the present world.”

“You see the changes that are coming here, the reforms. I think people who judge too harshly should come and visit this place and see for themselves,” he told the opening ceremony to cheers and applause.

“Suits,” the hit U.S. TV show created by Aaron Korsh, is getting a high-end Arabic adaptation that will play on prominent West Asia satellite pay-tv and streaming service Orbit Showtime Network (Osn) and Egyptian broadcaster Ums.

NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group, has teamed up with Cairo-based media production company TVision and Osn, as well as Egypt’s Ums, to produce the Arabic redo of the show. Shooting began in January on the first two seasons, comprising 30 episodes. The Arabic-language “Suits” is slated to start playing on Osn and its streaming app Watchit across West Asia, the region also referred to as the Middle East, during the region’s upcoming Ramadan TV season, starting April 2.

“‘Suits’ is one of the most popular TV shows in the world, and we are thrilled to be adapting it for Middle Eastern audiences and partnering once again with our friends at TVision,...