Intishal Al Timimi Steps Down as Director of El Gouna Film Festival, Takes on New Role as Strategic Advisor

Intishal Al-Timimi, the long-time director of Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival, is stepping down from the fest’s top leadership role.

Al Timimi had joined the festival when it launched in 2017 in El Gouna Resort-town in the Red Sea governorate, and rapidly put the event on the international festival map, proving its mettle in promoting the cream of the region’s cinematic crop, while also providing key support in nurturing new works through the informal CineGouna market. 

Going forward, he will continue to work closely with the festival as a member of its international advisory board and will take the new role of strategic advisor under which he will continue to offer guidance to the team and help develop the event.

The GFF was created by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris whose brother Samih built the El Gouna resort. It was founded in collaboration with actress and producer Bushra Rozza; CEO of I-Events Amr Mansi, and film producer Kamal Zadeh.

The festival began as a project of passion for art, culture, and most importantly filmmaking. Each edition has become a personal milestone for filmmakers across the region. 

For seven years running, GFF has been paving the road to all keen filmmakers, aspiring young talents, and enthusiastic cinephiles that may partake in its culture of nurturing dreams and turning visions into reality.

“I would like, on behalf of each one of us at El Gouna Film Festival, to express our deepest appreciation to Intishal Al-Timimi for his outstanding leadership and countless contributions,” stated Samih Sawiris.

“His passion for cinema and commitment to excellence have been instrumental to the positioning of GFF. We are very grateful for the profound impact Intishal has had as Festival Director on GFF’s growth and identity and I am delighted that he continues to be part of the festival in another strategic role,” he added.

Amr Mansi will continue to lead the El Gouna Festival team as Executive Director. Egyptian producer, director and mentor Marianne Khoury, who was appointed artistic director last year, is staying on board along with the festival’s head of programming Andrew Mohsen “to ensure a seamless transition” for GFF’s upcoming seventh edition scheduled to take place from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, 2024.