Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) has appointed Andrew Mohsen as artistic director, following the departure of Marianne Khoury earlier this year.
It marks a promotion for Mohsen, who joined the festival as a senior programmer in 2023 before he moved up to become head of programming the following year.
He takes up the role with immediate effect and has six months to prepare for GFF’s 9th edition, set to take place from October 15-23 in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna, 250 miles south of Cairo.
“Since he joined us, Andrew has shown an incredible instinct for discovering powerful stories and a clear understanding of our festival’s identity,” said Amr Mansi, co-founder and executive director of GFF. “Promoting him to artistic director is a testament to our belief in his vision and our commitment to the future of Egyptian and international cinema.”
Mohsen’s career in cinema began in 2015 as a film critic, writing essays and reviews. He was appointed artistic director for Ismailia International Film Festival in 2018 and Aswan International Women Film Festival in 2020 before taking on the artistic director role at Cairo International Film Festival in 2021.
“I have followed El Gouna Film Festival’s journey since its inception – first as a critic and then as a professional within the industry,” said Mohsen. “Today, I am honoured to take on the role of artistic director at such a pivotal stage, as the festival approaches its 10th anniversary. My primary goal is to sustain the festival’s success and expand its reach, ensuring GFF remains the preeminent bridge between Arab and international cinema.”
Mohsen is also the lead curator for the European Film Festival in Riyadh, a consultant for the Hollywood Arab Film Festival, and the Egyptian delegate for the Film O’Clock Festival. He was previously content manager for Arabia Pictures Entertainment in Saudi Arabia. He has also served on juries at CPH:DOX, the Tangier National Film Festival and Torino Film Lab.
He fills a position that has remained vacant since Khoury stepped down earlier this year, after three years in the role.
“GFF would like to take this opportunity to express its appreciation to director and producer Marianne Khoury for her remarkable contributions during her three-year tenure as artistic director,” said a statement from the festival. “Her dedication and vision have been crucial in enhancing the festival’s offerings and solidifying its position as a vital cultural link between Arab and international film.”
GFF was founded in 2017 by Egyptian tycoon Naguib Sawiris and is one of the leading festivals in the MENA region. It programmes Arab and international titles and also hosts industry platform CineGouna.
Last year’s edition screened 82 films and recorded a year-on-year increase in ticket sales from 20,000 to 33,000.
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