As part of the seventh day of the Gouna Film Festival’s seventh edition, an insightful panel discussion titled “Film Restoration: A New Vision” was he
As part of the seventh day of the Gouna Film Festival’s seventh edition, an insightful panel discussion titled “Film Restoration: A New Vision” was held, moderated by Ahmed Nabil and featuring a distinguished panel of industry experts. This session delved into various facets of film restoration, including the financial implications and ownership rights, while showcasing the initiatives and support provided by different organizations.
Marianne Khoury commenced the discussion by warmly welcoming the attendees and speakers, emphasizing that restoration is a multifaceted issue that requires consideration of both financial and legal aspects. Ahmed Nabil shared an anecdote about falling asleep while watching the film Mami due to its poor quality, which sparked his interest in the importance of restoration.
Nuria Sanz Gallego presented an overview of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program, which focuses on preserving documentary heritage. Patrice, head of the French Film Archive at the Centre National du Cinéma (CNC), highlighted the importance of keeping up with the digital age by making restored films accessible on digital platforms, ensuring that new generations can experience classic cinematic works.
Matilda Rouxel shared her experiences working on the restoration of 25 films, including projects by renowned director Jocelyne Saab. Journalist Tawfiq Hakim recounted the moment he watched the restored version of Bab El Shams by Yousry Nasrallah, describing it as though he was seeing the film for the first time. He noted that one of the greatest challenges in restoration lies in navigating ownership rights, referencing his collaboration with Marianne Khoury on the attempt to restore Youssef Chahine’s Jamila Bouhired.
Filmmaker Tamer El Said stressed that archiving serves the present more than the future, noting that restoration is not about altering the original image but enhancing its clarity while preserving the original vision. He also shared the detailed phases of restoring the film The Closed Doors and the difficulties encountered during the process.
The session concluded with an emotional note from director Khairy Beshara, who revealed, “I wept when I learned that eight of my films were restored,” noting the screening of the restored version of Qeshr El Bondoq at the festival. Marianne Khoury noted the high demand for tickets, prompting Beshara to joke, “If you pay me, I might find a way to get you in.”
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Sari Albeder – Elgouna Film Festival 2024 – #GFF24
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