El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) will grant its 2023 Career Achievement Award to the Egyptian director Marwan Hamed.
This prestigious accolade celebrates Marwan Hamed's substantial contributions to the Egyptian and Arab cinema industries, showcased through his diverse and influential body of work.
Hamed's films have revolutionized visual storytelling and set new standards for audiovisual effects in modern Egyptian cinema.
Hamed has achieved remarkable success both artistically and commercially. His works have become synonymous with authenticity and achievements.
Upon receiving the award, Marwan Hamedexpressed profound joy and heartfelt gratitude to the Gouna Festival and its organizers.
He dedicated this prestigious honor to his father, the renowned writerWahid Hamed, and his mother, the esteemed media figure Zeinab Swaydan.
Hamed also acknowledged his mentors, producers, and fellow artists who helped him on his artistic journey.
He warmly thanked those who placed their trust in him and participated in his films, whether in front of or behind the camera.
Intishal Al Timimi, the Director of El Gouna Film Festival, said: "We are delighted and honored that the distinguished filmmaker, Marwan Hamed, has graciously accepted to be the recipient of El Gouna Film Festival’s Career Achievement Award, this year.” Al Timimi added "The film industry has been greatly enriched by Hamed's remarkable contributions, have left a lasting impact and continue to inspire filmmakers. The management of El Gouna Film Festival wholeheartedly reaffirms its enthusiasm for celebrating his extraordinary cinematic journey and artistic vision.”
Amr Mansi, the Executive Director of El Gouna Film Festival noted “This award perfectly embodies the festival's vision of celebrating exceptional talent making a profound impact on Egyptian and Arab cinema.” Mansi added “Hamed's artistic brilliance and innate talent as a director are evident in every project he undertakes, leaving an indelible mark on filmmaking. With a stellar combination of critical acclaim and commercial success, Hamed's films consistently offer audiences pure cinematic pleasure that resonates long after.”
Marwan Hamed - A Brief Overview
Marwan Hamed's artistic journey has flourished over the course of two decades, showcasing his immense talent in film directing, cinematic and television production. Beyond his accomplishments in the world of feature films, he has also demonstrated his prowess by directing numerous television commercials and crafting impactful short documentaries.
In 1999, Marwan Hamed graduated from the Higher Institute of Cinema, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey that kicked off with his captivating short film Lilly, adapted from a short story by Yusuf Idris. The film's tremendous success resonated worldwide, earning it numerous international accolades, such as the prestigious Audience Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival andthe Golden Award at the Carthage Film Festival, among others.
In 2006, Marwan Hamed embarked on his directorial journey into feature films with The Yacoubian Building, an adaptation of the best-selling novel by Alaa Al Aswany. The film boasted an impressive ensemble of stars, including the legendary Adel Imam,Nour El-Sherif, and Yousra. Making its grand debut at the Berlin International Film Festival, The Yacoubian Building captured hearts at various international film festivals, earning widespread acclaim and appreciation from audiences and critics alike.
Marwan Hamed's diverse filmography includes successful adaptations of literary works, such as The Blue Elephant, based on Ahmed Mourad's novel. The film received critical acclaim and achieved massive box office success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films in Egyptian cinema history. His works range across various genres, from psychological drama in Originals (2017) to crime and mystery in Diamond Dust (2018) and action in Ibrahim Labyad (2009). Each film showcased Hamed's talent and artistic vision. Marwan Hamed's most recent cinematic triumph, Kirah Wa Al-Jinn (2022), is a remarkable adaptation of Ahmed Mourad's novel "1919", a captivating historical drama that has made its mark as the grandest production in Egyptian cinema. Breaking all box office records, the film surpassed even the monumental success of The Blue Elephant, generating a staggering 120 million Egyptian pounds in ticket sales. It was screened at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and received the Best Film Award at the Joy Awards.
Marwan Hamed has also been recognized as a jury member at various prestigious film festivals. These include the Red Sea International Film Festival in 2021, the El Gouna Film Festival in 2019, the CairoInternational Film Festival in 2015, and others.
Marwan Hamed's profound contribution to both Egyptian and Arab cinema has been remarkable, leaving an indelible mark that continues to resonate. His visionary work has not only made a lasting impact on the industry but also served as a powerful source of inspiration for the next generation of filmmakers.
A yearly GFF tradition, the festival’s Career Achievement Award is reserved for influential talents across different generations whose work and commitment to the film and entertainment industry have left an indelible mark. Recent recipients include Egyptian stars Adel Emam, Mohamed Henedy and Khaled El Sawy; international stars Forest Whitaker, Sylvester Stallone, Gérard Depardieu and Saïd Taghmaoui; Egyptian director Daoud Abdelsayed, Egyptian art director Onsi Abou Seif, Tunisian filmmakerDora Bouchoucha, Palestinian filmmaker Mai Masri, and Lebanese critic Ibrahim Al-Ariss.
The 6th edition of El Gouna Film Festival will take place from October 13th to October 20th in the city of El Gouna.
El Gouna Film Festival
One of the leading festivals in the MENAregion, GFF aims to showcase a wide variety of films for a passionate and knowledgeable audience, while fostering better communication between cultures through the art of filmmaking. Its goal is to connect filmmakers from the region with their international counterparts in the spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange. The festival is committed to the discovery of new voices and strives to be a catalyst for the development of cinema in the Arab world, especially through CineGouna Platform, an industry-oriented event created to empower Egyptian and Arab filmmakers and help them find artistic and financial support. CineGouna Platform presents the CineGouna SpringBoard and the CineGouna Bridge programs that provide opportunities for sharing and learning.
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