El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), the sixth edition of which was due to kick off this weekend, has been rescheduled “in light of the deeply troubling circumstances resulting in the loss of innocent lives” due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In a statement on Tuesday, the festival announced that it will now take place from October 27 to November 2 instead of its previous dates of October 13 to 20.
“The GFF team remains committed to hosting the festival, using this opportunity to reinforce and amplify our central theme, ‘Cinema for Humanity.’ This theme champions unity and empathy, and we’re dedicated to weaving it throughout all festival activities,” the statement reads.
“We firmly believe in the profound power of cinema to unite people, as we also understand the weight of the current situation and the importance of collective reflection. It is crucial that we provide space for healing, understanding, and solidarity to prevail.”
The statement continued, “Our commitment to showcasing the impactful work of our talented youth and emphasizing the transformative nature of cinema, remains unwavered. We sincerely appreciate your understanding as we navigate these challenging times.”
The decision comes just three days after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel out of Gaza, killing more than 900 people and kidnapping more than 100 others.
Israel declared a complete siege of Gaza and has also launched a bombing campaign on the Palestinian territory, which has killed at least 700 people.
Israeli are now massing on the Israel-Gaza border ahead of a potential land invasion.
GFF, which had been gearing up for a comeback edition after a one-year hiatus, takes place in the Egyptian Red Sea Resort of El Gouna.
The coastal town is not geographically close to Egypt’s border with Gaza, but tensions have been running high in the country and across the entire Middle East region following Saturday’s attack.
El Gouna’s lineup this year includes tributes to Egyptian director Marwan Hamed, the Sudanese Film Group, and Jane Birkin.
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