As part of the eighth edition of the El Gouna Film Festival, a session titled "Film Criticism: FIPRESCI 100 Years" was held yesterday. It was moderated by critic Mohamed Tarek, the artistic director of the Cairo International Film Festival, with the participation of Ahmed Shawky, president of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), critics Ola Salva and Dubravka Lakić, and attended by a select group of stars and filmmakers, including Ahmed Magdy, Youssef Osman, and Serbian critic Dubravka Lakić.

The discussion began by emphasizing that film criticism is not merely about analyzing movies, but rather a space to understand imagery and appreciate art. Ahmed Shawky noted that managing a federation encompassing more than fifty countries is a significant challenge, saying: "When we took over the federation, we had only 15 juries. Today, we have reached 80 juries and aim for 100, because we believe that criticism is an integral part of cinema's development."

Dubravka Lakić stressed that criticism is a difficult profession because it “does not please everyone,” adding: "Filmmakers do not always like us, but we write honestly because we love cinema as much as they do."

Ola Salva shared her experience as a female critic, explaining that entering the field was not easy: "When I started, it was difficult for a young woman to be accepted in this environment, but my love for cinema kept me going. We are not enemies of directors; we are part of the system that develops art."

The discussion then turned to the art of writing film criticism. Ahmed Shawky emphasized that a true critic must possess literary style and independent thinking, saying: "Real talent is not just in language, but in choosing the idea to explore within the film. You must understand why you loved the film or why you didn’t, and translate that into an objective and honest analysis, away from superficial impressions." Dubravka added that critics must be “good writers before being analysts,” stating: "You must write with honesty and intelligence, keeping the reader engaged until the last line, because criticism is not mere description—it’s a dialogue between you and the reader about art."

Shawky also stressed the importance of critical independence: "A true critic does not write to please anyone, but to understand and deeply analyze the work. The relationship between filmmakers and critics should be based on mutual respect."

At the conclusion of the session, the speakers agreed that the future of film criticism depends on maintaining honesty and intellectual freedom in an era of rapidly expanding digital platforms, emphasizing that critics will always remain a bridge connecting creators with audiences, and between the image and the meaning it conceals.