El Gouna Film Festival explores cinema production and AI impact

The El Gouna Film Festival continues its ‘Cine Gouna’ forum, a series of events designed to connect the public with film industry professionals. The program explores various stages of film production, from initial concept to screen, while addressing contemporary challenges facing the Arab film industry.

Key sessions include a discussion with actress Mona Zaki regarding her career and the craft of acting, and a dialogue with director Yousry Nasrallah about creative freedom and evolving cinematic styles. The forum also features a segment titled ‘Cinema for Humanity,’ which examines the relationship between archives, memory, and visual identity in post-colonial societies.

A major focus of the upcoming ninth edition, scheduled for October 2026, is the integration of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Experts are discussing how AI impacts development, financing, production, marketing, and distribution. While technology offers tools for script analysis, visual prototyping, and efficient editing, discussions emphasize the need to protect intellectual property rights and maintain the essential role of human creativity and artistic vision.