Cairo, October 19, 2022: As Egypt gets ready to host COP27 in November, the nearly yearly connection between the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) and the U.S. embassy is distinguished by extra cooperation this year: incorporating environmental conscience into the film business.
After viewing three documentaries on the effects of climate change on local communities, Holly Morris, an award-winning director, writer, and producer, and Michael Kovnat, a former executive producer with the National Geographic channel, will take part in a panel discussion on environmentally friendly filmmaking. Their involvement is a result of a collaboration between the American embassy and Film Independent, an NGO that aids independent filmmakers.
Egypt is not just one of the nations most impacted by climate change in terms of water scarcity, extreme heat, erosion, and saltwater intrusion into fresh water, but it is also holding COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. The phenomenon would undoubtedly have an impact on communities and ways of life throughout Egypt, and showcasing this in a movie would raise people’s understanding of climate change. Additionally, it would encourage Arab filmmakers to examine their own environmental problems.
“Egypt is like the Om of the film industry, not only Om el-Dunia [mother of the universe]. It’s a really important place,” U. S. Embassy Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, Lauren Lovelace, told Egypt Today at the CIFF press conference Tuesday.
According to Lovelace, “I do hope that there will be some industry crossover where we can see some partnerships happening, more Egyptians thinking about how to engage with Americans in their filmmaking process, whether it’s art, direction, film design, cinematography, costume design, or acting.”
In his opening remarks at the CIFF news conference on Tuesday, seasoned actor Hussein Fahmy praised the embassy for their assistance “as usual.” Fahmy, a Fulbright graduate who studied film in the United States, claimed that the U.S.
A scholarship organisation will have a kiosk at CIFF to inform aspiring filmmakers of options.
Hussein Fahmy and Lauren Lovelace in a photo provided by the American Embassy
According to Lovelace, the American embassy is pushing for more Egyptians to study cinema in the United States, where the best film schools in the world are located.
She remarked, “We would love for any Egyptian film students to come and study in the United States.
More U. S. information
The Fabelmans, a film by renowned director Steven Spielberg, will be shown at CIFF months before it opens in theatres. Two winners of the Cairo Film Connection’s fiction and documentary competitions will be honoured by Film Independent by receiving virtual consultations with American filmmakers.
American cinematographer Irvin Liu, whose film Dealing With Dad won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the 2022 LA Asian Film Festival, will deliver a 5 day-workshop at CIFF focusing on inclusion and diversity.
According to a statement from the U.S. embassy, the workshop, which includes 15 Egyptian participants, will also discuss “the art of storytelling from a cinematography viewpoint and the role of cinematography in magnifying social issues.”
According to Lovelace, the United States and Egyptian filmmaker Marianne Khouri have collaborated on short films, and the embassy will assist in bringing international films to Egypt’s remote regions.
She also mentioned Reem al-Adl, an Egyptian costume designer who this year is a jury member at CIFF, as one of the industry members the U. S. embassy worked with in support of costume design workshops.
Additionally, American-Egyptian filmmaker Sherief Elkatsha will screen Far from the Nile at CIFF.
This comes at an exciting time when Ramy Malek, Ramy Youssef, and Mena Masoud are among the younger generation of Egyptian actors working in Hollywood. Mohamed Diab, an Egyptian director, also directed Marvel’s Moon Knight, which also starred Layla El-Fouly, the first female Egyptian superhero.
In order to promote environmental awareness and diversity in filmmaking, the Cairo International Film Festival collaborates with the US Embassy.
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