CINEGOUNA SPRINGBOARD ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF ITS FOURTH EDITION ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL

Through its CineGouna Platform, El Gouna Film Festivalcontinues to empower Arab filmmakers in their quest to acquiring artistic and financial support. This business and industry-oriented event provides CineGouna SpringBoard and CineGouna Bridge, offering opportunities for learning and experience sharing.

Within the activities of the seventh day of the festival, October 29, 2020, the closing ceremony of CineGouna Platformwas held at the Festival Plaza, where the committee announced the winning projects and films.

For its 4thedition, CineGouna SpringBoard received 99 submissions (65 projects in development and 34 films in post-production) from all parts of the Arab world. A panel of experts reviewed the submissions and made a selection of 12 projects in development (9 narratives and 3 documentaries) and 6 films in post-production (5 narratives and 1 documentary) on the basis of their content, artistic vision, and overall financial feasibility.

Competing directors and producers have submitted their projects and films to producers, sponsoring institutions, distributors, film sellers and festivals programmers, for their technical advice. In addition, one-on-one meetings were held between filmmakers, industry experts and consultants to develop scenarios or incomplete versions of films and enhance opportunities for regional and international cooperation. The CineGouna SpringBoardjury consisted of Clément Chautant, French sales agent and Head of Festivals at the Paris-based company Indie Sales, Lebanese director and producer Dima Al-Joundi, and Jordanian writer, director and producer Layali Badr.

Goodbye Juliaby Mohamed Kordofani (Sudan)won the prize for best project in development (CineGouna Platform Certificate and a cash prize of US $15,000); and Life Suits Me Wellby Al Hadi Ulad Mohand (Morocco) received the prize for best film in post-production (CineGouna Platform Certificate and a cash prize of US $15,000).

The award-winning projects and films of the CineGouna SpringBoardSponsorship prizes were also announced, and they are as follows:

Hamlet from the Slumsby Ahmed Fawzi-Saleh (Egypt) received a prize of $20,000 from Shahid and a prize of $10,000 from Sparkle Media Services, as well as participation in the Film Independent Virtual Residency award from Film Independent and The U.S. Embassy, in addition to participation in one of IEFTA's partner development lab or workshop from IEFTA.

Bye Bye Tiberiasby Lina Soualem (Palestine, France) won a $10,000 prize from iProductions, a $10,000 prize from Synergy Films, and $10,000 from Dakhli West El Balad by Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment. Hajj to Disneyby Maha Al-Saati (Saudi Arabia) received a $10,000 prize from Arab Radio & Television Network (ART); and Seeking Haven for Mr. Ramboby Khaled Mansour (Egypt) won a prize of $10,000 from Rotana, and another $10,000 from Lagoonie Film Production.

A $10,000 prize from New Century Production, a $30,000 prize fund—a minimum guarantee from MAD Solutions & Ergo Media Ventures, and a $10,000 prize from Sparkle Media Services also went to Goodbye Juliaby Mohamed Kordofani (Bahrain, Sudan). On the other hand, Streamsby Mehdi Hmili (Tunisia) received $10,000 from Weyyak. I Am Here But You Can't See Meby Feyrouz Serhal (Lebanon, Spain) was granted $80,000 worth of production services from Shahid.

The Maiden's Pondby Bassem Breche (Lebanon) received an award in the form of $50,000 pre-sale from OSN; and Life Suits Me Wellby Al Hadi Ulad Mohand (Morocco) won a $10,000 worth of a full DCP package from The Cell Post Production, and $30,000 worth of VFX services from Mercury Visual Solutions. Another $10,000 worth of a full film promotions package from The Cell Post Production went to Communionby Nejib Belkadhi (Tunisia).

The feature documentary film in development Big Boys Don't Cryby Muhammad Mustapha (Egypt) received a participation in the Film Independent Virtual Residency presented by Film Independent and The U.S. Embassy; while the feature documentary Take Me to The Cinemaby Albaqer Jafeer (Iraq, Egypt) received an editing residency for a period of up to 10 weeks coupled with tailor-made consultancy sessions from DOX BOX. Finally, The Day Of Arafahby Ala'a Al Qaisi (Jordan) won a participation in IEFTA's Global Film Expression initiative, presented by IEFTA.

CineGouna SpringBoardis a project development and co-production lab that offers opportunities to find creative and financial support for Arab film directors and producers with projects in development or films in post-production. It received long-form fictional and documentary projects in development, and post-production films that were submitted at the specified submission time.