Cut! Demi’s gruesome horror sparks walk-out at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt

Coralie Fargeat’s controversial body horror The Substance, starring Demi Moore, proved too gory for guests at its Middle East and North Africa premiere at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt at the weekend.

The picture, which follows a fading TV star who takes a mysterious drug to create her younger double – played by with Margaret Qualley, led to a mass walk-out due to its gruesome scenes.

The film is now set to be banned in the region, as an insider tells me: ‘It’s only been cleared for the festival but won’t be allowed to be screened for a theatrical release anywhere in the region. 

‘There’s quite a bit of nudity in it, which violates the Egyptian moral code. It’s horrific and won’t be able to pass with the censorship board’s standards.’

The source adds: ‘There would have had to be at least 56 cuts for it to be shown on the big screen.’

The picture, which follows a fading TV star who takes a mysterious drug to create her younger double – played by with Margaret Qualley (pictured), led to a mass walk-out due to its gruesome scenes

The film is now set to be banned in the region, as an insider tells me: ‘It’s only been cleared for the festival but won’t be allowed to be screened for a theatrical release anywhere in the region’ (Margaret and Demi pictured earlier this month)

But Moore, 61, has defended the movie, saying: ‘It was such a unique, out-of-the box way of delving into the subject matter of ageing, that pursuit of perfection, placing value and validation on the external aspects as to valuing our insides.’

The movie, which was screened at the 7th edition of El Gouna Film Festival, is a part of its 43% quota of selected feature-length documentaries and fiction films directed by women and the 33% that are debut or second-time projects by a female filmmaker.

Artistic Director of the festival Marianne Khoury says the figure reflects the festival’s commitment to fostering new voices and championing diverse perspectives.

‘This percentage is huge,’ she tells me.

‘We have a president of the jury of the narrative that is Indian, and we have another president of the jury of the documentary film, who is a Lebanese woman.’

‘I feel that this year is for me is more exciting year because I had the opportunity to think a little bit strategically. What is the most important thing for a film festival? To me, the most important thing for a film festival is to have a big audience.’

She adds: ‘It’s hard for filmmakers in general in Egypt, there is a lot that has to be done regarding the industry. 

‘And this is where the role of a festival like this one, where the festival cannot allow itself just to be a window for showing films, but it should have a very strong industry arm and do partnerships and co productions.’

‘There’s quite a bit of nudity in it, which violates the Egyptian moral code. It’s horrific and won’t be able to pass with the censorship board’s standards’ (Margaret seen in film)

But Moore, 61, has defended the movie, saying: ‘It was such a unique, out-of-the box way of delving into the subject matter of ageing, that pursuit of perfection, placing value and validation on the external aspects as to valuing our insides’ (pictured on Sunday)

Artistic Director of the festival Marianne Khoury (seen at festival on Thursday) says the figure reflects their commitment to fostering new voices and championing diverse perspectives