The US embassy in Cairo will be hosting three illustrious American documentary filmmakers – Mary Kerr, Grace Guggenheim, and Sky Sitney – from Nov. 12-22.
These cultural envoys are guests of honor at the Egyptian Documentary Filmmakers Association’s celebration of “100 Years of Egyptian Documentary Film, under the auspices of the Egyptian Minister of Culture. This celebration will take place at the Creativity Center, Cairo Opera House grounds on Nov. 16.
Mary Kerr, executive director of the Flaherty Film Seminar, will discuss the origins of documentary film in the United States via the work of the “grandfather of documentary, Robert Flaherty.
Grace Guggenheim, from Guggenheim Productions, Inc., will present the work of her father, multi-Academy Award-winning filmmaker Charles Guggenheim. His work spans nearly five decades and represents a broad range of significant stylistic shifts in the documentary genre, and also marks critical junctures in American documentary film history.
Sky Sitney, director of programming for Silverdocs, the “pre-eminent documentary festival in the US, will present the newest trends, concerns, and aesthetics in documentary film today. Clip reels will accompany the three presentations.
In her visit, Sky Sitney will be selecting Egyptian documentaries and artists to participate in the Silverdocs festival in 20008.
The following activities will be held at Cairo Opera House’s Artistic Creativity Center. Admission is for free.
Friday Nov. 16America Through the Documentary Lens introductory program, 6 pm.Mary Kerr: Flaherty Program presentation, 7 pm. Mary Kerr: Showing and discussion of Nanook of the North Documentary, 8:30 pm.
Saturday Nov. 17Mary Kerr: Showing of Moana Documentary, 7 pm. Mary Kerr: Showing of Man of Aran Documentary, 8:30 pm.
Sunday Nov. 18Grace Guggenheim: Program presentation, 6 pm.Grace Guggenheim: Showing of Nine from Little Rock, A Time for Justice, Shadow of Hate, The Johnston Flood, Robert Kennedy Remembered, Island of Hope-Island of Tears and Journey to America Documentaries, 8:30 pm.
Monday Nov. 19Sky Sitney: Silverdocs Contemporary Docs Program presentation, 6 pm.Sky Sitney: Showing and discussion of Big Rig or In the Shadow of the Moon Documentaries, 8:30 pm.
