Farah El-Rafei

– Cofounder –

Farah El-Rafei earned her bachelor's degree in Design Management from the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in Spring 2015. She has been actively exploring the regional creative landscape through her work with various cultural organizations, including Art Dubai and the Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Center (DUCTAC). Currently, she serves as the Exhibitions Manager at the National Pavilion UAE – La Biennale di Venezia, overseeing the United Arab Emirates' participation at the Venice Biennale.

ISRAA MAHMOUD IBRAHIM

– Cofounder –

Israa Mahmoud Ibrahim is a multidisciplinary designer specializing in design management, interior design, and product design. She holds a bachelor's degree in design management from the American University of Sharjah, in 2014 and a dual master's degree in interior and product design from Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan in 2016. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with renowned clients such as Samsung, Milano Design Film Festival, and Whirlpool, gaining valuable experience and expertise. In 2016, she co-founded Film My Design, a design film festival based in Cairo that aims to celebrate the region’s design scene through film. More recently in 2022, she established Urban Elements, a multidisciplinary design studio operating in Cairo and Dubai.

SHARINE ATIF

– Programs Manager –

Sharine Atif is an American-Egyptian shorts filmmaker and arts manager, gaining a B.F.A in Visual Arts from Hunter College in New York, and an M.F.A in film directing from the Walt Disney founded school, California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in 2017. Her CalArts thesis film 'Jebel Banat' 2018, is the retelling of a 19th century Egyptian legend, winning the Student Visionary Award at Tribeca Film Festival 2019. Her next short films 'Have a Nice Day' (2022) is in distribution and ‘No Length’ is currently in development. Sharine was the general coordinator and assisted with developing the festivals programs at the Luxor African Film Festival for two editions, in 2014 and 2018. In 2019, she independently curated The Egyptian Indie Film Series, as a way to examine Egyptian independent filmmakers and the role their cinematic productions have on the cultural landscape. From January to July 2023 , Sharine joined Darb1718 Contemporary Art and Culture center as the General Manager developing all programs and managing operations. The centers was established in 2008 as an NGO aiming to advance the contemporary art movement offering services that support, cultivate and sustain the burgeoning art scene in Cairo Egypt.

TARIQ ABDALLA

– Festival Coordinator –

Tariq Abdalla is a director and editor based in Cairo, Egypt. His latest short film, "The Weight of Memories on My Feet," has been screened at multiple festivals worldwide. Abdalla edited "Three Disappearances And A Song," which received the Best Short Film awards at Gabes Cinema Fen (Tunisia) and the Manassat Film Festival (Egypt). While his practice emphasizes experimentation, exploration, and exchange, he has actively participated in renowned workshops and international programs such as BaseCamp Locarno and Talents Beirut. Additionally, Abdalla co-developed and facilitated the film workshop "The Image I Couldn't Capture, I'm Trying to Write About" at the Contemporary Image Collective - CIC. Currently, he is producing his personal short film "Attempting to Remember My Father's Face," which has received production grants and prizes from the Manassat Film Festival and the Short Film Lab by Medrar and Between Women Filmmakers Caravan. Simultaneously, he is developing the short fiction "Myna Birds," which was selected to participate in the Torino Talents and Short Film Market workshop "What's the Story? Cyprus."

Nihal Samy

– Operations Coordinator –

Nihal Samy, a passionate artist with an academic background and a journey in the world of applied arts, majored in media design at the German University in Cairo. Her graduation project, a film documentary titled "Free Her the Road," was featured in several platforms and festivals in Egypt.

Fueled by an unwavering passion for the creative field, Nihal's insatiable curiosity led her to immerse herself in various projects in the realms of production, filmmaking, and photography.

Youssef Mansour

– Business Developer –

Youssef Mansour is a multidisciplinary professional committed to enhancing Egypt's cultural landscape. Drawing on his roles as a curator, artist manager, and writer, he employs critical discourse to advance cultural and artistic expression in Egypt. In 2019, Youssef founded his organization, 404, serving as a platform for youth, fostering artistic exploration and dialogue. 404 has hosted over 30 events, including exhibitions, film screenings, talks, and collaborative programs, reflecting Youssef's dedication to creating spaces for meaningful exchanges and artistic development. Alongside his work with 404, Youssef has previous experience as a curator and project manager at Art D’egypte and currently serves as the Business Developer at Film My Design.

NADINE ALI

– Communications Coordinator –

Nadine Ali is a Cairo-based visual artist, writer, and researcher. She holds a degree in Fine Arts, Helwan University. Her artistic journey began with her involvement in Studiokhana's program for contemporary art and cultural development, where she explored various mediums including photography, text-based and multidisciplinary art. Nadine's artistic exploration extends beyond her own practice as she actively engages with the local art scene through writing and research. Her works have been showcased at prominent venues in Cairo, including Darb1718, AUC Tahrir Culture Center, and CIC Contemporary Image Collective. Through her use of language and words, Nadine expands her professional and personal interests in art and various fields.

Yasmina El Kamaly

– Senior Programs Coordinator–

Yasmina El Kamaly is a filmmaker and visual artist hailing from Cairo, Egypt. She studied directing at the High Cinema Institute in Cairo. In 2022, she co-founded Glifics, and currently serves as its Head of Film Acquisition & Programming. El Kamaly’s directorial debut, "The Mother and the Bear," received its world premiere screening at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2024. A visual artist in addition to her work in film, El Kamaly's video installations have been showcased in exhibitions such as "Being Borrowed". El Kamaly has three years of experience working in film festivals and cultural organizations in Egypt, including Manassat Film Festival, El Gouna Film Festival, Film My Design, and Between Women Filmmakers Caravan. Previous roles encompassed programming & curation, coordination, and talents relations.