“First Person Films”: Center to showcase 12 student-made documentaries
Blind musicians, Iraqi refugees, stressed-out emergency room doctors and men who iron clothes with their feet. These are a few of the subjects of compelling short documentary films produced this year by students at the Center for Electronic Journalism to be shown on Sunday, June 3 at 7:00 pm at the Jameel Center Auditorium in AUC's Greek Campus.
The evening will be hosted by Knight International journalism Fellow and visiting filmmaker/instructor Craig Duff with special guests. Duff, an Emmy award-winning documentary producer and broadcast journalist, has been teaching at the Center for Electronic Journalism for the past nine months. The films in this event were produced in professional development classes and in a graduate-level course at the University.
“Every one of the students has brought something special to the task of filmmaking,” says Duff. “But what impressed me most were the subjects the students chose. They have gotten access to unique and interesting people whose stories bring to life some fascinating and brave issues and subjects. By hearing their tales – told in the first person – we gain insights into some unknown pockets of Egyptian society.”
The evening will include the following films all of which are in Arabic with English subtitles:
Resonance
Mustafa Said Mohamed Antar has been blind since birth, and has overcome several hurdles to become an accomplished player of the oud. Filmmaker Alaa Al Dajani (with Hala Osman) follows Mustafa as he revisits his childhood school, performs in public and discusses various challenges – including his father’s belief that music is forbidden – in this moving and musical film.
Kasr El Aini ER
An intimate portrayal of emergency room doctors who strive every day to give the best care they can amid the bustling chaos of Cairo’s public charity hospital. Sara Abou Bakr and Bassel Sabri gained unprecedented access to the hospital and filmed there for several weeks.
Om Ola
A moving portrait of an Iraqi woman and her two children, who describe life as refugees, separated from the husband and father, and adjusting to life in Egypt, far away from their Baghdad home. By Nadia El-Gowely (with assistance from Maysaa Abdel Rahman)
Lokmet Eish
It is a profession that once served the royals of the country, but now faces extinction. Filmmakers Farah El Alfy, Haidy Ammar and Habiba Yussr meet one of the last remaining foot ironers (magwa rigl) in Cairo.
The Choice of No Choice
Alaa Abd el Fatah, an Egyptian blogger and determined advocate of political reform, was born into a family, and in a political setting, where activism is almost a destiny. Filmmaker Olfa G. Tantawi (with support from Raya Shokatfard) explores this family’s history and future of activism.
The Wadi Degla
The chief ranger of an environmental protectorate outside of Maadi, describes its beauty and the threats to its future. A film by Badre Bally, Dina Habib, Noura Seif and Alexander Rizk.
Eftekasat
In a story that begins on the fifth birthday of this well-regarded Cairo jazz band, filmmakers Ahmed Montasser and John Pease discover the uphill climb and the hurdles placed by the music industry as the band releases its first CD.
A Life on the Nile
A day in the life of a Felucca captain, who treats his boat “just like a mosque.” By Lobna Labib, Ibrahim El-Sherif and Islam Ahmed.
Coach Shawky
Former Ahly player and captain Ahmed Shawky is now the headmaster of an international football school and an inspiration to aspiring young footballers. By Ibrahim El-Monasterly and Omar Rohaiem with Yomna Haythem.
The Art of Mandur (Fan Mandur)
Explores the work of potter and artist Mohammed Mandur, and his relationship with son Hany Mandur, who struggles to establish his artistic career apart from his well-known father. By Abdalla F. Hassan.
Yasmine’s Children
The 46 children at the El Hosary center would have had a bleak life if they hadn’t found their way into the arms of Yasmine Al Khayyam. The former pop star created a center to care for orphaned children after returning to her father’s fold. Hisham Hafiz and Tarek Talaat spend a few days with Yasmine and her children.
The Camel Market
Spend a morning in the frenzied life of the Berqash camel market outside of Cairo in this lively and informative short piece by Inas Ismail and Nadine Kanawy.
Note to News Organizations
Betacam and DV video clips will be available to broadcast news outlets the evening of the show. High-resolution photos from the field and frame stills from the films themselves are available immediately.
Interviews with the filmmakers and some of the subjects of their films can be arranged at the event.
Contact: Ghada El-Nashar (797-5422) or Craig Duff (010-927-5214).
About the Center for Electronic Journalism
The Center prepares students at the American University in Cairo for careers in broadcast and multi-media journalism. The Center provides the core course work for an undergraduate concentration in broadcast journalism in the Journalism and Mass Communication major at AUC. The department also offers a one-year Graduate Diploma program in Electronic Journalism.
The goal of the center is to teach students to be video journalists familiar with the skills and equipment required to produce their own TV news stories from start to finish - researching, interviewing, shooting video, writing, editing, and narrating. The Video Journalism approach is used at some of the most innovative TV news operations in the world. Given industry-wide trends such as miniaturization of equipment and reduction of personnel, the VJ approach is the future of broadcast journalism. Even in the Middle East where local news organizations still tend to be labor intensive, this approach to teaching TV news gives students incredible flexibility and advantage in a highly competitive field. For more information: www.aucegypt.edu/academic/cej/
About the Knight International Journalism Fellows
The Knight International Journalism Fellowships stimulate and nurture transformational change in journalists, media and societies around the world. Funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the fellowship program sends international media professionals to key countries where there are opportunities for meaningful and measurable change. Working with partner organizations on high-impact projects, they build skills and enhance the standards of independent news organizations. By raising professional journalism practices worldwide, Knight International helps media make societies more accountable to their citizens. For more information: www.knight-international.org.
About Craig Duff
Craig Duff is Knight International Journalism Fellow, on a nine-month assignment in Egypt from September 2006. He is partnered with the Center for Electronic Journalism at The American University in Cairo (AUC) to teach broadcast journalism and television documentary production, which he also does with Egyptian broadcast outlets.
Craig is an award-winning documentary television director, producer and writer. He most recently worked at The New York Times as the paper ventures into broadcast journalism through the expanded use of video on its website. Duff ’s recent television work includes several documentaries produced with the Times on topics including the future of the Arctic Ocean, homeland security, the ins and outs of political reporting, and theft in the antiquities trade. He also covered recent events in Iraq for PBS and the Discovery Channel. Prior to his work with the Times, he produced documentaries for CNN, where he had previously served as an executive producer. While at CNN, he won numerous awards, including a national Emmy award. Duff has a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University.