02:57 PM Tuesday 19 December 2023
Written by Mona Al-Moji:
Report – Alaa Ahmed:
Photography – Alaa Ahmed and Islam Farouk:
With great activity, you find her moving between the various venues of the El Gouna Film Festival in its sixth and exceptional session, carrying her child, who has not yet completed his first year as he is only 8 months old, trying to caress him and return to doing her work, and speaking enthusiastically about the Palestinian issue, the rights of the people of Gaza, and the importance of cinema and art festivals. In conveying a true picture of the situation that her people are living in Palestine, she cries and is affected, but she gathers her strength as she realizes that she is the voice of the people of Palestine that must not be silenced. She must scream in order to restore hearing to those who are deaf. She is the Palestinian producer, director, and mother, Mai Odeh.
Mai says to “Masrawy” about the presence of her child, Elijah, with her: “He is the youngest child with a festival card, and as a cinematic mother, I had to continue my work. I am here, and Elijah is with me. We came to convey the voice of Palestine and the children of Gaza, who deserve a decent life and a better future.”
She continued, “Those in charge of the El Gouna Film Festival were kind enough to give him a card as a young filmmaker. He attends films with me, reads scripts with me, follows the meetings, and conveys the voice of the Palestinians to the world.”
Mai called on all the children of Gaza and Palestine that God would bless them with an easy day, and that He would grant them a better future and that the coming would be sweeter.
Mai went back to talking about the interest of many major festivals, such as Cannes and Berlin, in having a nursery for children, adding, “I tell the El Gouna Festival to create a nursery for children and we encourage mothers to attend because this is normal life, to be present and continue working without leaving our children, and we as filmmakers are forced to continue with our lives.” .
Regarding what you wish for Elijah’s future, do you dream of him working as a broadcaster, especially with his fascination with the microphone, or working in the cinematic field? She explained, “I wish him to work in something comfortable, away from the fatigue of the media, as well as directing and producing, something that would be easier, but I will of course leave him the freedom to work in what he likes if He wanted to be a media personality or work in the field of cinema. In the end, I hope he does what he loves.”
The El Gouna Film Festival kicked off its activities last Thursday evening, December 14, and over the past days witnessed the screening of a number of films dealing with the Palestinian issue, including: Bab al-Shams, The Professor. The film program also included a large number of works, such as: From Abdul to Laila, Al-Moazza, Al Shanab, and Hollywood Gate, in addition to dialogue and discussion sessions with filmmakers and stars, such as the session of director Marwan Hamed and artist Yousra, and other sessions to discuss important cinematic issues.