Film Clinic | Egypt Arab Cinema Center

Film Clinic | Egypt

TWELVE-MONTH HIGHLIGHT(S):
In 2022, Film Clinic co-produced the Egyptian hit TITLE HOLDER, Iraqi HANGING GARDENS that premiered in Venice and CIFF winner 19B by director Ahmad Abdalla. It also distributed the winner of Sundance’s Special Jury Award ANIMALIA in 2023. At Cannes this year, the Critics' Week section will host the premiere of the short I PROMISE YOU PARADISE that Film Clinic co-produced.

MOHAMED HEFZY

FOUNDER & MANAGER

EGYPTIAN

CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
The internationally recognized writer-turned-producer is now fully focussed again on making and distributing his own films after stepping down from a highly successful stint as President of the Cairo International Film Festival. A pioneer in Arab co-productions, Hefzy teamed up recently with Aramco-supported Ithra as a creative consultant for two of its Saudi film projects including SEA OF SANDS.

What character do you identify with?
Rick Blaine in CASABLANCA.

Who’s your hero?
My alter-ego.

What’s the industry’s most troubling trend?
Lack of discipline and structure.

2024 will be the year that MENA finally does what?
2024 will be the year that the MENA finally has its first Academy Award for international film.

What was your first job?
A DJ.

What’s your secret daily habit or guilty pleasure?
It's a secret, and I can't tell you.

What’s the last great show or film you watched?
SUCCESSION.

What would have been your dream job if you didn’t end up doing what you’re doing?
Festival Programmer.

DANIEL ZISKIND

PRODUCER

FRENCH

CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
Ziskind has more than three decades of experience in the French biz, where he started as an Assistant Director for such venerated auteurs as Claude Lelouch and Alain Resnais. Ziskind’s first project with Film Clinic was the political thriller CLASH, which he brought to French sales company Pyramide International.

What character do you identify with?
Al Pacino in THE GODFATHER.

Who’s your hero?
Charlie Chaplin.

What’s the industry’s most troubling trend?
Lies.

2024 will be the year that MENA finally does what?
The MENA region will produce unexpected films from a young generation yet to be known, and they’ll go to Berlin, Cannes, Venice & Toronto.

What was your first job?
Assistant Director.

What’s your secret daily habit or guilty pleasure?
Going to the cinema alone.

What’s the last great show or film you watched?
JE VERRAIS TOUJOURS VOS VISAGES by Jeanne Henry.

What would have been your dream job if you didn’t end up doing what you’re doing?
An aircraft pilot.