18 Days
By: Sherif Arafa, Kamla Abou Zikri, Marwan Hamed, Mohamed Ali, Sherif El Bendari, Khaled Marei, Mariam Abou Ouf, Ahmad Abdallah, Yousry Nasrallah, Ahmad Alaa (Egypt, 2011, 125 min)
Screens: Thursday, November 10th, 7pm
Synopsis:
With no budget, and on a voluntary basis, 10 directors and their crews decided to make 10 short films about the 18 days of the Egyptian Revolution in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. These stories, inspired by events experienced, heard, or imagined, were an “instant response” to this pivotal moment in Arab history
18 Days was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival a mere three months later. This film is an amazing feat, resulting from the unified vision of emerging and established directors who decided to act fast and shoot. The filmmakers agreed that their proceeds would be devoted to organizing convoys to provide political and civic education in the villages of Egypt.
Director's Bios:
18 Days: RETENTION
by Sherif Arafa
Sherif Arafa is an Egyptian director, writer, and
producer. He was born in 1960 and graduated in
1982 from the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo.
Sharif Arafa participated in the making of many
of the movies that define the history of Egyptian
cinema, such as Terrorism and Kebab,
Birds of the Dark, The Mafia, and Halim.
18 Days: GOD’S CREATION
by Kamla Abou Zikri
Kamla Abu Zikri was born in Cairo where she
graduated from the High Institute of Cinema.
Her work has been screened and won awards
in several American and international festivals.
Zikri’s films include First Year Con (2004) and
One-Zero (2009).
18 Days: 19-19
by Marwan Hamed
Marwan Hamed was born in Cairo. After
graduating from film school, he made a 40-minute
short, Lilly (2001), based on a story by Yousef
Idrees. His first feature film was the celebrated
The Yacoubian Building (2006), for which he won
Best New Narrative Director at the Tribeca Film
Festival. His second feature was the controversial
crime drama Ibrahim Labyad (2009).
18 Days: WHEN THE FLOOD HITS YOU
by Mohamed Ali
Mohamed Ali was born in Alexandria. He studied
law and film directing in Cairo, where he is now
based. His award-winning work includes the
feature film Lebet El Hob (2006) and the television
series Ahl Cairo.
18 Days: CURFEW
by Sherif El Bendari
Sherif El Bendari was born in Cairo. He earned a
degree in film at Helwan University’s Faculty of
Applied Arts, and teaches directing there. He has
directed documentaries for Al Jazeera television
along with a number of commercials. His first
short narrative film, Rise & Shine (2006), was
selected for 75 festivals worldwide and won 15
awards. His graduation project, At Day’s End (2008), found similar success. He was chosen for
the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2007.
18 Days: REVOLUTION COOKIES
by Khaled Marei
Khaled Marei has won a number of awards as a
director and editor. His editing credits include
Marwan Hamed’s internationally acclaimed hit
The Yacoubian Building (2006). His films include
‘Asal Eswed and Bolbol Hayran (both 2010).
18 Days: #TAHRIR 2/2
by Mariam Abou Ouf
Mariam Abou Ouf was born in Cairo. After earning
a degree in political science and philosophy from
the American University of Cairo, she studied
at London Film School. She has worked as an
assistant director and has directed commercials
and television programs. Her work includes the
award-winning documentary Taxi (2004). She
recently completed her first feature film.
18 Days: WINDOW
by Ahmad Abdallah
Ahmad Abdalla was born in Cairo. He studied
music before starting a career as a film editor.
His first directorial effort, the critically acclaimed
Heliopolis, starring Khaled Abol Naga, screened in
competition at ADFF in 2009. His second feature,
Microphone (2010), won a number of international
awards.
18 Days: INTERIOR/EXTERIOR
by Yousry Nasrallah
Yousry Nasrallah was born in Cairo and received
his degree in economics and political science from
Cairo University. He worked as a film critic and
was the assistant to Volker Schlondorff on the
making of Circle of Deceit (1981). He later worked
for the late , legendary director Youssef Chahine.
18 Days: ASHRAF SEBERTO
by Ahmad Alaa
Ahmed Alaa was born in Cairo. He graduated from
the High Cinema Institute in 1999. He has worked
as a director of commercials and an assistant
director on a number of features. His debut feature
as The Replacement (2009).
