U.S. Embassy cultivates Egyptian-American film,television industry connections at CIFF

CAIRO - 17 November 2020: The U.S. Embassy in Cairo and partners Film Independent and the Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI) are pleased to participate at the 42nd edition of the Cairo International Film Festival to strengthen collaboration in film and television sectors.  

Film Independent and MEMI will hold workshops and festival events in partnership with the festival’s industry arm, Cairo Industry Days, taking place on December 4 – 7.

Film Independent and the U.S. Embassy are proud to welcome Kelly Thomas, the Spirit Award winning producer of Spa Night and Javier Fuentes-León, executive producer of the Netflix hit Wild District who will co-lead a seven-day virtual workshop to help Arab producers participating in Cairo Industry Days understand U.S. independent film financing strategies and facilitate simulated pitch sessions for regional and international co-productions opportunities.

The workshop will include case studies by Heather Rae, the producer of the Academy Award nominated film Frozen River and Eric D’Arbeloff, Co-President and Co-Founder of Roadside Attractions, as well as Global Media Makers Fellows. Film Independent will hold a virtual panel with U.S. producers Mollye Asher (Nomadland), Mynette Louie (Swallow), and Derek Nguyen (The Housemaid) from the production company The Population. This year will also be the first time the U.S. Embassy and Film Independent will be awarding a virtual residency award for two projects selected to participate in Cairo Film Connection that includes private and curated virtual sessions with film experts in Los Angeles.

The Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI) will be hosting the Cairo TV Pitch Forum as a part of Cairo Industry Days.  MEMI selected 11 Arab TV projects, 3 of which are Egyptian, to be part of a mentorship and development program led by the U.S. television experts. Through a series of workshops, the selected TV content makers will be equipped to develop their project to eventually pitch to local and international TV producers, as well as Arab and international platforms and buyers. MEMI is supported by the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts (SCA).

Cultural and artistic exchanges are just one way the United States partners with the people and government of Egypt. Learn more at the Embassy’s website, eg.usembassy.gov, and follow the U.S. Embassy’s participation in the Cairo International Film Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @USEmbassyCairo.