CAIRO, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's ninth El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) concluded on Friday evening, with the Egyptian film "Safe Exit" winning the top prize at the closing ceremony.
Directed by Mohammed Hammad, "Safe Exit" received the Golden Star for Best Feature Film.
In the documentary competition, "Citizen Osama," directed by Ahmed Hassouna, won the Golden Star for Best Documentary and Best Arab Documentary, while "Stolen Memories," directed by Anders Davidsen, took the Golden Star for Best Short Film.
Other major awards went to "Yesterday the Eye Didn't Sleep," directed by Rakan Mayasi, which won Best Arab Feature Film, and "American Doctor," directed by Poh Si Teng, which received the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award.
GFF artistic director Andrew Mohsen said audience numbers had grown from one edition to the next.
While the festival is often associated with crowded venues and red-carpet appearances, Mohsen said its focus remained on cinema itself.
"Its core lies in the films and cinematic activities inside the screening venues," he told Xinhua.
Held in the Red Sea resort town of El Gouna from Oct. 15 to 23, the festival featured 77 films from around the world, alongside screenings, discussions and industry events.
CineGouna, the festival's industry and funding platform, also supports connections among film professionals and the development of projects at different stages, Mohsen said. ■
