“There are a lot of people who have the potential for producing good films, but they are out there hidden somewhere,” said film critic and journalist Mohamed Abdel Rahman.
“There are a lot of young people who would like to work in the film industry, but find it really hard because of their lack of skills,” Abdel Rahman added.
Aiming to promote young talents and create more opportunities for amateur youth filmmakers, the Ministry of Culture announced last week the launch of ‘Cinema Between Your Hands’, a project to develop filmmaking skills across the nation. The project is part of the 2018 ‘Start Your Dream’ initiative to develop and offer opportunities to young people interested in theatre and acting through organising workshops nationwide.
“The art of cinema is a brilliant way to spread awareness and enlightenment. It is also effective tool for building a strong and cohesive society,” Minister of Culture Enas Abdel Dayem said.
Egypt is one of the leading countries in the field of the seventh art, which represents one important axis of development with its effective tackling of social issues, Abdel Dayem added.
Supervised by the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, ‘Cinema Between Your Hands’ will train participants in many aspects of filmmaking through workshops in the governorates.
As of mid-August in Alexandria, trainees will be attending three months of classes led by renowned specialists and professors — filmmakers, directors of photography, musicians and film critics — from the Higher Institute of Cinema.
The project also includes specialised film camps in the country’s tourist governorates, where participants can produce short promotional films.
The Ministry of Culture will be reprinting Egyptian magazines related to cinema, in addition to launching a website presenting the history of Egyptian cinema.
Film critic Abdel Rahman told this newspaper that the project will help raise awareness of Egypt’s cinematic heritage and create a new generation within the filmmaking industry.
“With the popularity of video streaming platforms, many budding filmmakers are being given the exposure that they need. But in order to embark on a path towards filmmaking, it is important for them to work on their filmmaking skills and cultivate their talent as much as they can. This opens many opportunities for them whether in filming nature, movies or documentaries,” he said.
“That is exactly what the initiative is working on,” Abdel Rahman added, noting that it fosters an environment where local artists are able to articulate their skills and showcase their films with the help of experts, ultimately providing audiences with purposeful art.
“The initiative can significantly contribute to promoting independent films and broaden cultural horizons in the governorates that are far from the vibrant cultural life of Cairo and Alexandria,” Abdel Rahman added, pointing out that independent films handle specific social issues related to local communities.
