Arab Film Criticism & the Film Festival Economy | With Renowned Critic Ahmed Shawky

We're joined by film critic and president of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), Ahmed Shawky, and delve into the role of film critics in the Arab world. We talk about Shawky's personal journey into critiquing films and the evolution of Arab cinema. Shawky shares insights on iconic Egyptian filmmakers, the impact of global cinema, and his experiences at various film festivals. We touch on the challenges of censorship and the future of the Arab film industry. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Defining the Role of a Film Critic02:00 Early Influences and Passion for Cinema03:35 The Impact of the Internet on Film Criticism08:42 Starting a Blog and His First Writing Job11:46 Golden Age of Arab Cinema15:55 Challenges of Film Criticism in the Arab World19:57 The Life of a Modern Film Critic25:14 Optimism and Challenges in Arab Cinema29:38 The Role of Film Festivals31:27 The Growth of Filmmakers on the Global Scene32:25 Advice for Arab Film Festivals34:19 Successful Film Festival Models39:47 The Role of Saudi Arabia in the Arab Film Industry48:14 Challenges and Optimism in Censorship52:22 Rapid Fire QuestionsAhmed Shawky is a Tanta-born Egyptian film critic, programmer, and president of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Egyptian film critics association (EFCA). He publishes weekly articles about cinema and entertainment industry, mainly in three major Arabic websites: Filfan.com, Fasllah.com, and Schehrezade.com. He has published eight books Egyptian cinema, and worked for many festivals like El Gouna, Cairo, and Malmo. In 2010, he presented his first film, A Life's Box, then directed The Green Tape, and A Guinea Pig, before making his first documentary, Once Upon a Place.Connect with Shawky 👉 https://www.instagram.com/shawforlifeHosted by:Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gbTheme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.