Marianne Khoury, Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir.
Egyptian filmmakers Nada Riyad and Ayman Al Amir received this year’s Variety Award
The Variety Award is presented annually at El Gouna Film Festival to emerging filmmakers expected to have a significant impact on the future of cinema.
The award honors filmmakers who have demonstrated exceptional talent or produced high-quality works, both artistically and commercially.
The award was presented to the filmmakers today at a ceremony held in the Festival Plaza as part of the 7th edition of El Gouna Film Festival, running until November 1, 2024.
The ceremony was hosted by GFF’s Artistic Director Marianne Khoury, who said in her opening remarks, “We are delighted to announce and celebrate the achievements of Egyptian filmmakers who have tackled societal issues in a way that resonates with audiences.”
Film Journalist, Critic and Programmer Rafa Sales Ross – Variety Magazine “Nada and Ayman have, as directors and producers, been behind incredible projects, from THE TRAP, to HAPPILY EVER AFTER and THE BRINK OF DREAMS, the later which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival’s Critics Week selection and that will be screened in El Gouna Film Festival tonight in what I am sure will be a beautiful premiere”
“Nada Riyad and Ayman El Amir’s work has broached issues of autonomy, creativity, womanhood and political stability in a way that is at once illuminating and deeply moving. And we at Variety are so thrilled to champion Nada and Ayman and cannot wait to continue to follow their outstanding work in the many years to come”
On receiving the award, Nada Riyadthanked Variety magazine and El Gouna Film Festival, stating, “I am honored to receive this award on our premiere night. We are grateful for your support.”Notably, The Blink of Dreams had its Middle Eastern premiere today as part of the 7th edition of El Gouna Film Festival.
Variety is one of the world’s leading magazines specializing in cinema and entertainment. Since its inception eight years ago in 2016, the Variety award has been given to creators of exceptional films, from The Insult, which earned Lebanese director Ziad Doueiri an Oscar nomination, to Goodbye Julia by Sudanese director Mohamed Kordofani.”
El Gouna Film Festival
One of the leading festivals in the MENA region, GFF aims to showcase a wide variety of films from around the world, with emphasis on Arab cinema, for a passionate and knowledgeable audience, while fostering better communication between cultures through the art of filmmaking.
The festival’s goal is to connect filmmakers from the region with their international counterparts in the spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange. Moreover, it aims to promote and support the industry’s growth in the region and provide a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work in addition to discovering new voices and talents.
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