Cinema’s role is more than just aesthetics. It aims to evoke a response within its audience, but it’s also more than mere emotions. “To instruct and delight” is the primary function of art. As cinema is the most modern manifestation of that, that is precisely what the Gouna Film Festival aimed to achieve this year in its eighth edition.

Cinema for Humanity

This year’s edition of GFF revolves around the theme ‘Cinema for Humanity,’ but this time it extends beyond just a theme to encompass the participating works. In an effort to make real, tangible change in the world, GFF partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) to highlight the urgent crisis around food security.

Life: Food, Art, and Social Responsibility Panel

“In the last few years, especially through collaborations with actors, the issue of food security has gained a lot of attention. But we still have a long way to go.” That’s what panel moderator Hoda El Sherif said when broaching the subject. This panel was dedicated to discussing how storytelling can cultivate both awareness and change.

“Food security isn’t just about giving people food; it’s about ensuring everyone has the chance to access proper, nutritious food at all times”, head of communications, advocacy, and marketing at WFP, Amina El Korey, commented.

Food in Relation to Art Panel

The panel included Laila Eloui, Chef Mohamed Sarhan, and filmmaker Mohamed Ashour. Alongside the issue of food security and food waste, they also discussed how food is more than just sustenance. They explored how food is also linked to our memory and identity. Their discussion highlighted how cinema can transform the act of eating into a narrative of who we are and what we stand for through the power of storytelling.

Speaking from her own cinematic experience, Laila Eloui said, “The simplicity of life on the farm — getting the egg from the chicken, the tomato from the field — that’s what ‘Kharag We Lam Ya’oud’ was all about. The cast was genuinely happy merely to be eating the food.”

GFF is doing a stellar job of transcending awareness to real impact by using its platform to advocate for those who can’t do it for themselves.