U.S. Embassy Supports El Gouna Film Festival's Filmmakers

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo and partner Film Independent are again participating in this year’s El Gouna Film Festival.  This is the second year of the U.S. Embassy-Film Independent partnership and fourth year of successful collaboration between the Egyptian and American film industries at El Gouna.  

This year’s U.S. Embassy support for Egyptian artists during the October 23 – 31 festival includes a virtual industry panel discussion with leading American film executives and producers, a seven-day feature short-film script-writing virtual workshop led by American experts, and a residency award for two Egyptian filmmakers that includes private and curated virtual sessions with film experts in Los Angeles. 

The U.S. Embassy has offered skills training and mentorship to over 40 Egyptian filmmakers since it first partnered with El Gouna Film Festival in 2017.

U.S. Ambassador Jonathan R. Cohen noted: “El Gouna Film Festival is a valuable platform to promote and exchange creative ideas and form lasting connections between American and Egyptian storytellers.  Egypt has a rich history in film, and together with America’s film industry we are strengthening the capacity of Egyptian artists to effectively tell their stories.” 

Film Independent is the nonprofit arts organization that champions creative independence in visual storytelling and supports a community of artists who embody persity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision.

Cultural and artistic exchanges are just one way the United States partners with the people and government of Egypt.