Q&A Following the Screening of “Drifters”

Designer: Dr. Shahir Maged is a multidisciplinary artist working with wood and electronic music. Alexandrian born and raised, Maged’s journey with wood started from a rather young age as his father Prof. Dr. Maged Maurice had embraced carpentry as a serious hobby. Maged's close relation to the Mediterranean and its energy had a direct impact on his work. He started collecting driftwood from its shores, attracted to its rustic beauty and worn-out yet valuable qualities. As Maged came from a family of doctors, he studied and trained to be an orthopedic surgeon and chose it specifically because of its resemblance to woodwork. After practicing medicine for ten years as a successful doctor, he decided to quit, dedicating his time to his lifelong passion of woodwork. Today, Maged is making driftwood furniture and trying to continuously improve his skills and techniques to produce unique, functional and durable pieces of art.

Film Director: Hani R. Eskander is a construction engineer, who decided to pursue his passion for photography and storytelling. Eskander started as a field photographer, then, utilizing his prowess in organization and scheduling, worked as first assistant director in numerous TV and online advertising campaigns and later for TV shows such as “El Bernameg", "Amreeka Bel 'Araby" and "Ramadan Galak." As Eskander decided to begin experimenting with directing films, Drifter Films was born in 2015 – Eskander's independent film label, where he shot, produced and directed “Oh My! Oh Agami!” that was officially selected and screened in several online film festivals.  Shortly after, “Drifters” won best short documentary film at the 5th Toronto Beaches Film Festival in 2016 and was later publicly shared on social media. Drifter Films aims to tell humane stories through thought-provoking films: stories of people, places, pressing social issues – stories that inspire self-dependence and self-belief.

Moderator: Israa Mahmoud Ibrahim obtained her bachelor’s degree in design management at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in Fall 2014 and dual master's degree in interior and product design in 2016 at Scuola Politecnica di Design (SPD) in Milan. During her master’s, Ibrahim worked with various renowned clients such as Samsung, Milano Design Film Festival and Whirlpool. She also gained valuable experience from working with the Italian design studio, Navone Associate. Recently, Ibrahim has also worked with Royal Ahrend, a Dutch Furniture firm, as a product designer in Dubai and COLAB Workshop Interior Architecture Company as an interior designer in Cairo. In 2016, she cofounded Film My Design (FMD), a Cairo-based, design film festival.​​