Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival to continue as scheduled after plaza fire

After a fire ravaged through site of Egypt's top film festival, a day before it was scheduled to start, organisers announced on Wednesday that  El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) will proceed as scheduled. On October 13, a huge fire engulfed main plaza of Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival. 

Before fire was put out, videos and photos on social media showed a fire covering part of open-air site that houses El Gouna Film Festival. No injuries were reported. 

However, sharing a live view of venue,  El Gouna Film Festival's organisers informed that only a portion of plaza was damaged and opening ceremony of film festival will take place as planned on Thursday night.

Chairman of Orascom Development Holding, festival's parent company, Samih Sawiris said in a statement, “GFF extends its gratitude to Civil Defense Forces and Red Sea Governorate for ir immense help in extinguishing fire that took place earlier this morning in one section of Festival Plaza. It’s important to note that 5th edition of GFF will proceed as planned.” 

Fire breaks out at Egypt's top film festival

Sawiris stated in an Instagram Story that  fire was caused by a short circuit in one of shops close to main venue, Arab News reported. At around 11.40 am local time on Wednesday, ambulances, and fire trucks rushed to scene and by 12.10 pm  fire was successfully doused. Dr Khalid Mujahid, Egypt's Assistant Minister of Health, claimed that 20 ambulances were dispatched to location, National News reported.  

Soon after flame was extinguished, thorough cleanup started. A significant section of square-shaped plaza was burned and packed with debris and rubbles. Many large pieces of wood dropped into surrounding water, as per National News report.   

El Gouna Film Festival

5th edition of GFF will happen in  Red Sea resort town of El Gouna from October 14 to 22.  event is an annual festival and was established by a renowned Egyptian businessman, Naguib Sawiris, in 2017. festival is hosted at his bror Samih Sawiris's El Gouna resort. 

El Gouna Film Festival is Egypt's most elegant and renowned film festival, which acknowledges and honours art of filmmaking. It has not only benefited film industry and its artists but has also impacted social community. GFF has been working hard to promote a variety of issues, including migrants, female equality, sustainability, and much more. This year 80 Arab and foreign films will be screened at film fest.  

(Image: @MayRostom/Twitter)