“Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.” This is how Swedish director, writer, and producer Ingmar Bergman described cinema.
In our society, cinema has been playing a crucial role in documenting history, revolutions, culture, and lifestyles throughout time. The rise of commercial movies had led to a noticeable decrease in the quality of the movies presented over the past decades, but independent filmmakers are always the solution to this equation. With their purposeful movies, they manage to balance the scales and present an honest mirror that reflects the society’s problems and mistakes.
Mohammed Saadoun is an Alexandrian independent filmmaker who studied directing at the Arab Academy for Cinema and TV. Away from his private business, he produces and directs short movies, believing that art is a noble message that must be conveyed to all segments of any society. His first movie Intezar (The Wait) tackled the philosophical context of how people waste their time waiting for something, and eventually discover that it was not meant for them from the very beginning.
Last year, his movie Sokkar Welad (Boy’s Sugary Dream) participated in a big number of film festivals and won the Best Script Award at the Red Carpet Festival in Bahrain and the Tiharqa International Award for Cinema and Art. The movie received positive feedback from critics and viewers.
The film tackled the sufferings of a poor child who managed to achieve his dream his way. Shooting the movie was not an easy task, as Saadoun faced a lot of hardships related to getting the required licenses for shooting some scenes in public streets.
This year, Saadoun decided to tackle the sufferings of Egyptian and Arab women in his fourth movie Alia. The film features a number of talented actors and actresses, including Ola Mandor, Mostafa El-Feky, Ahmed El-Dars, and others.
“I started writing this movie one year ago and modified the script many times. We started the shooting preparations three months ago,” Saadoun said.
“I chose this topic in particular because the Egyptian mother does not usually receive enough attention from her husband and children, and the movie aims o present a simple recipe that can help each mother lead a happier life with her family,” he added.
Saadoun reaches out to different entities to get the required financial support for the production of his movies. “I usually fund my movies independently. However, Alexandria Independent Films Company helps me with the editing, and One Three Company provides me with the needed shooting equipment,” he noted.
Saadoun is currently searching for an idea for his first feature film. “I am always interested in shedding light on social cases and neglected characters. I love to get closer to people’s sufferings, pains, dreams, and hopes,” he concluded.
‘Alia’ tackles sufferings of mothers in the Egyptian society
By Rana Khaled
“Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.” This is how Swedish director, writer, and producer Ingmar Bergman described cinema.
In our society, cinema has been playing a crucial role in documenting history, revolutions, culture, and lifestyles throughout time. The rise of commercial movies had led to a noticeable decrease in the quality of the movies presented over the past decades, but independent filmmakers are always the solution to this equation. With their purposeful movies, they manage to balance the scales and present an honest mirror that reflects the society’s problems and mistakes.
Mohammed Saadoun is an Alexandrian independent filmmaker who studied directing at the Arab Academy for Cinema and TV. Away from his private business, he produces and directs short movies, believing that art is a noble message that must be conveyed to all segments of any society. His first movie Intezar (The Wait) tackled the philosophical context of how people waste their time waiting for something, and eventually discover that it was not meant for them from the very beginning.
Last year, his movie Sokkar Welad (Boy’s Sugary Dream) participated in a big number of film festivals and won the Best Script Award at the Red Carpet Festival in Bahrain and the Tiharqa International Award for Cinema and Art. The movie received positive feedback from critics and viewers.
The film tackled the sufferings of a poor child who managed to achieve his dream his way. Shooting the movie was not an easy task, as Saadoun faced a lot of hardships related to getting the required licenses for shooting some scenes in public streets.
This year, Saadoun decided to tackle the sufferings of Egyptian and Arab women in his fourth movie Alia. The film features a number of talented actors and actresses, including Ola Mandor, Mostafa El-Feky, Ahmed El-Dars, and others.
“I started writing this movie one year ago and modified the script many times. We started the shooting preparations three months ago,” Saadoun said.
“I chose this topic in particular because the Egyptian mother does not usually receive enough attention from her husband and children, and the movie aims o present a simple recipe that can help each mother lead a happier life with her family,” he added.
Saadoun reaches out to different entities to get the required financial support for the production of his movies. “I usually fund my movies independently. However, Alexandria Independent Films Company helps me with the editing, and One Three Company provides me with the needed shooting equipment,” he noted.
Saadoun is currently searching for an idea for his first feature film. “I am always interested in shedding light on social cases and neglected characters. I love to get closer to people’s sufferings, pains, dreams, and hopes,” he concluded.
