CineGouna's Funding Chief Says Egypt Has 100 Years of Cinema and No National Film Fund
At El Gouna this week, CineGouna Funding awarded more than $350,000 in cash and services, with 40 awards going to 16 of the 19 participating projects.
Ahmed Shawky, who heads the fund, describes three gaps in the Arab world: many countries have no national film funds, co-production treaties are limited, and regional funding is volatile.
Egypt is his example. Shawky, a film critic and festival programmer, says the country's film commission focuses on attracting foreign productions rather than financing local films, and that Egypt has no national film fund despite 100 years of cinema history and more than 4,000 features.
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The volatility may matter more than the size of any single cheque. Regional funds have helped fill part of the gap, but Shawky says their resources can fluctuate, leaving filmmakers unsure what support is available. Uncertainty deserves its own line in the budget.
The other shortage is people: Amer argues that funding is certainly an issue, but that creative producers are badly needed. A cheque is easy to count; producing judgment is not.