“All of a Sudden” Joins El Gouna’s Outside-Competition Selection
El Gouna Film Festival continues to reveal films selected for its ninth edition, including “All of a Sudden”, directed by Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi and selected for the festival’s program outside competition.
The film will be presented during the ninth edition, scheduled to take place from October 15 to 23, 2026, as part of a program bringing international productions and diverse cinematic voices to the festival audience.
“All of a Sudden” carries a distinctly international identity, with production involving France, Japan, Germany and Belgium, while the film combines French and Japanese dialogue.
🎬 Ryusuke Hamaguchi Presents a New Cinematic Experience
“All of a Sudden” is directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, continuing his interest in stories driven by human relationships, dialogue and the emotional impact of unexpected encounters.
The film has a runtime of 195 minutes, giving the story substantial space to explore its characters and their evolving relationship.
Its selection outside competition adds another international title to El Gouna’s ninth-edition program and gives audiences the opportunity to experience a film built around character development and human themes.
🌍 A Four-Country International Production
“All of a Sudden” is a co-production involving France, Japan, Germany and Belgium, bringing together several filmmaking environments in one project.
The combination of French and Japanese dialogue also contributes to the film’s international character and reflects the cultural differences present within its story.
This multinational production allows the film to move beyond a single cultural setting and present a human story through different languages and perspectives.
❤️ The Story of “All of a Sudden”.. An Encounter That Changes Lives
The film centers on Marie-Lou, the director of a care facility for elderly residents, who is committed to providing them with a more dignified quality of life.
She faces a number of difficulties in her work, including staff shortages and bureaucratic pressure, but continues to develop her own approach to caring for residents with attention and respect.
Her life changes when she meets Mari, a Japanese theater director dealing with a serious illness.
Their unexpected encounter develops into a deep human relationship, becoming the center of the film’s emotional journey.
The story explores how an unexpected person entering someone’s life can change their understanding of relationships, vulnerability and the meaning of everyday existence.
🎭 Two Women Facing Vulnerability and Questions About Life
“All of a Sudden” focuses on two central women whose experiences are very different but become connected through their meeting.
Marie-Lou is deeply committed to the dignity of elderly people, while Mari faces a difficult illness that forces her to confront questions about life, time and human connection.
Their conversations and growing friendship create the emotional foundation of the film.
Rather than relying only on major dramatic events, Hamaguchi allows the story to develop through conversations, gestures and subtle changes in the relationship between the two women.
⭐ The Idea of “Humanitude” and Dignity in Elderly Care
An important element of the film is the concept of “Humanitude,” an approach to elderly care centered on empathy, communication and respect for human dignity.
The idea shapes Marie-Lou’s professional philosophy and becomes a major part of the story as she attempts to improve the lives of residents in her care facility.
As the film develops, the same principles of empathy and understanding extend into her relationship with Mari, turning their friendship into another space for support and emotional connection.
🏆 International Recognition Before El Gouna
Before arriving at El Gouna, the film had already gained international attention through its participation in the 2026 Cannes Film Festival competition.
Its two leading actresses, Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto, also received the festival’s Best Actress award for their performances.
The film’s inclusion in El Gouna’s program therefore gives audiences in Egypt and the Arab region another opportunity to discover Hamaguchi’s latest work following its international festival presence.
🎥 From Japanese Filmmaking to a French Setting
“All of a Sudden” also represents a new geographical setting for Hamaguchi, with the story moving into a French environment.
Much of the film takes place in an elderly care facility in the Paris area, providing a European backdrop that differs from the Japanese settings associated with many of his earlier projects.
At the same time, the presence of Japanese characters and Japanese dialogue creates an interaction between different cultural environments that becomes part of the film’s dramatic identity.
✨ “All of a Sudden” Adds a Distinctive Title Outside Competition
The selection of “All of a Sudden” adds another international film to El Gouna Film Festival’s outside-competition program.
The film gives audiences an opportunity to watch a dialogue-driven story focused on relationships, emotional vulnerability and human dignity, while also introducing the latest work of a Japanese director with a strong presence on the international festival circuit.
Its combination of French and Japanese language, four-country production and a story centered on an unexpected connection between two women creates a distinctive cinematic experience.
Ultimately, “All of a Sudden” joins the outside-competition program of the ninth El Gouna Film Festival, bringing together Japanese filmmaking, a French setting and an international production built around themes of illness, friendship, dignity and human connection.
Would you watch “All of a Sudden” for its human story or for Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s filmmaking style? 🎬💬
