DUBAI: Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival postponed its sixth edition for the second time due to the “distressing circumstances” in Gaza, organizers said on Instagram on Thursday.
The festival did not reveal the new date for the sixth edition, but organizers said it will take place when the situation stabilizes in Palestine.
The event was initially set to take place from Oct. 13-20. On Oct. 11, the festival announced that the event will be postponed until Oct. 27-Nov. 2.
The festival’s statement on Oct. 11 read: “The GFF team remains committed to hosting the festival, using this opportunity to reinforce and amplify our central theme, ‘Cinema for Humanity.’ This theme champions unity and empathy, and we’re dedicated to weaving it throughout all festival activities.
“It is crucial that we provide space for healing, understanding, and solidarity to prevail,” continued the statement.
Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna, who was set to perform at the festival, also stated her desire to not perform “right now” before the festival was postponed. “It was an honor to be invited … however, I will not be participating right now,” she wrote on Instagram.
US Palestinian Dutch supermodel Gigi Hadid took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message to the victims of the conflict.
“My thoughts are with all those affected by this unjustifiable tragedy, and every day that innocent lives are taken by this conflict — too many of which are children,” her post read.
“I have deep empathy and heartbreak for the Palestinian struggle and life under occupation, it’s a responsibility I hold daily,” she added. “I also feel a responsibility to my Jewish friends to make it clear, as I have before: While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinian, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person.”
