Intishal Al Timimi, founder and chief of Egypt’s El Gouna Movie Competition, is stepping down from the fest’s prime management position.

Al Timimi had joined the pageant when it launched in 2017 within the Purple Sea resort city of El Gouna, 250 miles south of Cairo, and quickly put the occasion on the worldwide pageant map, proving its mettle in selling the cream of the area’s cinematic crop, whereas additionally offering key assist in nurturing new works by way of the casual CineGouna market. Going ahead, he’ll will proceed to work carefully with the pageant as a member of its worldwide advisory board. His new position is that of strategic advisor “underneath which he’ll proceed to supply steerage to the group and assist develop the occasion,” the pageant’s assertion mentioned.

The fest was created by Egyptian telecom billionaire Naguib Sawiris whose brother Samih constructed the El Gouna resort.

“I would love, on behalf of every one in every of us at El Gouna Movie Competition, to precise our deepest appreciation to Intishal Al-Timimi for his excellent management and numerous contributions,” said Samih Sawiris.

“His ardour for cinema and dedication to excellence have been instrumental to the positioning of GFF. We’re very grateful for the profound influence Intishal has had as Competition Director on GFF’s progress and id and I’m delighted that he continues to be a part of the pageant in one other strategic position,” he added.

Amr Mansi, who’s the pageant’s co-founder, will proceed to guide the El Gouna fest group as government Director. Egyptian producer, director and mentor Marianne Khoury, who was appointed creative director final yr, is staying on board together with the pageant’s head of programming Andrew Mohsen “to make sure a seamless transition” for the the fest’s upcoming seventh version scheduled to happen from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, 2024.