US Ambassador to ET: ‘Diplomacy,film can go hand in hand in terms of being tools for cultural outreach

 

“This is the third year we are participating and we are really happy to be able to offer two awards, one-on-one mentorship for Egyptian filmmakers with US film experts to be done virtually this year because of health situation” Cohen said.

 

US ambassador to Egypt said that Cairo International Film Festival is such an important film festival, actually the most important festival in the Middle East.

 

”So to be essential  part of that, to be sponsor of it, to be able to give awards to the upcoming promising filmmakers it is a great contribution that  we can make both for the Egyptian Film Industry and also to build connections between the US and the Egyptian Industries because those connections help to create kind of foundation of how we understand each other” Cohen said to Egypt Today.

 

The US ambassador said that the embassy is working through Film Independent which is a Los Angelos based company to find the most promising actors, directors, producers and film executives to match together with Egyptians so they can benefit most effectively from their interactions.

 

 

 

The US ambassador recounted that the embassy can do large events.

 

”Last year when I first arrived in Egypt, just a year ago I hosted a large reception for large number of participants at the festival and it was really wonderful for me that the first Egyptians I met as ambassador were people who are involved in the film industry whether they were actors, producers, directors” Cohen said.

 

This year of course because of COVID-19 the embassy couldn’t have an event like that.

 

“ So we have just been doing things on a much smaller scale but through the course of the year I tried to stay in touch with a number of  people I met in the very first event and I am really happy to be with a number of them in this edition from Cairo International Film Festival” Cohen addded.

 

US Ambassador values very highly the cultural connections the embassy has.

 

”I think you heard my speech in Cairo Film Connection awards ceremony,  diplomacy and film can go hand in hand in terms of being  tools for cultural outreach for transcending the borders created by boundaries and by language, giving people common experience and help in the conversation with each other”  Cohen said.

 

Cohen said that he visited several places in Egypt such as Sharm el Sheikh and North coast.

 

” I visited American companies working in Western Dessart, I visited Ismailia, I am trying to get around the country as much as I can because I want to be ambassador to all of Egypt not just Cairo” US Ambassador said.

 

Cohen visited Alexandria couple of times.

 

“ The hardest thing about COVID-19 for me is that for 6 month I couldn’t do the travel I wanted to do, now it is a little bit easier, so I will keep going in the right direction to be able to continue traveling so I can see more of a Egypt” US Ambassador said.

 

 

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo and partners Film Independent and the Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI) participated at the 42nd edition of the Cairo International Film Festival to strengthen collaboration in film and television sectors.  

 

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

 

Film Independent and the U.S. Embassy brought Kelly Thomas, the Spirit Award winning producer of Spa Night and Javier Fuentes-León, executive producer of the Netflix hit Wild District who 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 included 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 held 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 was the  first time the U.S. Embassy and Film Independent presented  a virtual residency award for two projects selected to participate in Cairo Film Connection that included private and curated virtual sessions with film experts in Los Angeles.

 

The Middle East Media Initiative (MEMI) hosted 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 were 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.