El Gouna Film Festival announces opening of design contest

CAIRO - 29 May 2019: El Gouna Film Festival and Sawiris Foundation for Social Development announced opening the door for applicants of NGOs and civil society organizations willing to participate in the handicraft competition.

The competition is launched by the festival and the foundation with the aim of empowering skilled Egyptian artists and craftsmen, supporting their creative practices and enhancing the value of products made exclusively by Egyptian hands to introduce Egypt to the world through a high quality product that reflects Egyptian history, identity and culture.

Through the competition, fair opportunities will be available to all civil society organizations that work in the field of handicrafts and cultural heritage to present their proposals for the design of a promotional gift package for the third edition of the 2019 El Gouna Film Festival.

"We are delighted to partner with El Gouna Film Festival. We are proud to be part of this work which aims at empowering the Egyptian artisans economically, reviving the heritage, strengthening the Egyptian handicrafts sector, and supporting the Egyptian product,” stated Executive Director of Sawiris Foundation for Social Development Nora Salim.

In the same context, CEO of El Gouna Festival Amr Mansi stated: “Preserving, protecting, sustaining and introducing handicrafts is a growing challenge around the world. If we do not revive these artistic forms, and spread awareness of them in the urban areas, these trades are threatened with extinction. We must give the handicrafts sufficient attention, and give their craftsmen the due recognition of their skills. El Gouna Film Festival is also pleased to contribute to the efforts of Sawiris Foundation for Social Development in this matter.”

It is noteworthy that El Gouna Film Festival is an annual film festival founded in 2017. The festival is held in the exotic Red Sea resort town of El Gouna, Egypt.

The initiated festival started September 22, 2017. The psychological thriller “Scary Mother” by Georgian director Ana Urushadze was awarded the Golden Star, which is the festival’s top feature film competition award. Oscar-winning actor and director Forest Whitaker was honored with a lifetime achievement award.