Joanna Haug will chair the El Gona Film Festival jury

British director Joanna Hogg ('Memorial', 'Eternal Girl') will preside over the jury at Egypt's El Gona Film Festival, which runs from October 15-23. Hogg, who is one of Britain's leading writers, will hold a masterclass on "Life in Film" during the festival. Joining Haag on the El Gona jury […]

British director Joanna Hogg ('Memorial', 'Eternal Girl') will preside over the jury at Egypt's El Gona Film Festival, which runs from October 15-23.

Hogg, who is one of Britain's leading writers, will also hold a 'Life in Film' masterclass during the festival. Egyptian actress Nahid Al-Sabai ("19 B") joins Haag on the El Gona judging panel. Egyptian composer Khaled Hammad, whose career spans three decades and includes The Jacobean Building and The Inevitable Journey to Find the Wedding Dress. Iraqi Kurdish filmmaker Shaukat Amin Korki ("Memories on the Stone", "Examination"); and Turkish writer Yeshim Ostağlu, whose drama What Remains recently premiered in San Sebastián. RELATED STORIES Richard Linklater says Merrily We Roll Along will resume filming in "a few months" and gives a "progress report" on the 20-year-old production: "See you in 2040."

The festival, held on the Red Sea resort about 250 miles south of Cairo, also announced the composition of other jury lists for its ninth edition. Popular in Variety

The Swiss-Iraqi filmmaker, producer and multidisciplinary artist known as Samir will chair the El Gona Feature Documentary Competition and the "Green Star" Jury, which will judge the films competing for the Documentary Awards as well as the Festival Award, which recognizes the best film on environmental issues. Abuzar, a filmmaker from Afghanistan and a Dutchman, who join him in this jury. Amini (Kabul bin al-Salawat); Belgian producer Julie Ferce ("From Abdul to Leila", "Beyond the Sun"); Rita Gotteg, director and owner of the Zurich Film Festival; and Gladys Jojo, Lebanese film editor ("Speaking of Trees," "Bye Bye Tiberias").

Finally, the jury of the El Gona Short Film Competition consists of the pioneering Saudi director Meshaal Al-Jasser ("Naga"). Tunisian director Amel Guelati ("Where the Wind Comes From"); and Greek actor and director Christos Pasalis, who starred in "Teeth of the Dog" and Sundance Audience Award winner "Hold Onto Me."