Events Director — El Gouna Film Festival (GFF)
Reports To: Executive Director
Position Overview
The
Events Director leads the strategy, design, and execution of all official gatherings, red carpet ceremonies, industry panels, and VIP activations for the El Gouna Film Festival. Balancing international festival prestige with El Gouna's luxury resort environment, this role manages multi-venue operations, cross-departmental logistics, high-level budgets, and key relationships with destination authorities, sponsors, and global delegations.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Logistics & Production:
- Oversee end-to-end planning, run-of-show design, and live execution for major GFF functions (Opening/Closing Ceremonies at the GCCC, Red Carpet galas, CineGouna platform events, press conferences, and beachfront/marina after-parties).
- Manage spatial layouts, technical riders (AV, staging, lighting), crowd flow, and weather contingency plans across indoor hubs and open-air coastal venues.
Stakeholder & Destination Coordination
- Align event logistics across internal teams (Programming, VIP Protocol, Media, Security, Transportation) and integrate corporate sponsor activations into festival grounds.
- Serve as the primary liaison to Orascom Development, Red Sea Governorate officials, emergency services, and local businesses to guarantee regulatory compliance and smooth resort integration.
Financial Management & Administration
- Develop and administer multi-venue event budgets, enforcing cost controls and post-festival financial reconciliations.
- Source, negotiate, and oversee contracts with local and international AV suppliers, caterers, and production vendors.
- Deliver operational post-event audits and performance reports to festival leadership and key stakeholders.
On-Site Leadership & Operations
- Recruit, train, and direct core event staff, technical crews, seasonal workers, and volunteer teams.
- Oversee VIP red carpet protocol, guest flow, and crowd safety during peak festival hours.
- Serve as lead decision-maker for live-event crisis management and real-time operational adjustments.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Experience: 8+ years leading large-scale events, with direct experience in international film festivals, major cultural conventions, or high-profile award shows.
- Logistical Mastery: Proven capability managing concurrent, multi-venue operations in complex indoor and outdoor settings.
- Financial & VIP Skills: Advanced budgeting and contract negotiation expertise, paired with deep knowledge of VIP/celebrity protocol and high-end hospitality standards.
- Languages: Professional fluency in both Arabic and English (written and spoken) is required.
- Regional Fit: Strong knowledge of Egyptian production vendor networks; familiarity with El Gouna infrastructure is strongly preferred.
- Flexibility: Ability to work extended hours and reside on-site in El Gouna throughout pre-festival setup and execution.
