U.S. Embassy Cairo, in collaboration with Film Independent, will host a summit on November 28th and 29th to mark the third anniversary of Global Media Makers (GMM), a U.S. film mentoring initiative. The event aims to connect Egyptian and regional filmmakers with prominent figures from the American film industry.
The summit will feature several notable participants, including Len Amato, President of HBO Films; Laura Kim, Senior Vice President of Film Marketing at Participant Media; Producer Effie T. Brown known for "Dear White People"; Producer Alix Madigan associated with "Winter’s Bone"; film distributor Elissa Federoff; and Director, Producer, and Screenwriter Gregory Nava recognized for works like "El Norte" and "Selena".
This gathering offers nearly 50 past GMM participants a chance to reconnect with mentors and peers. It will also provide a platform to discuss potential collaborations, funding opportunities, and share best practices within the industry. Mentors are set to deliver presentations on various topics such as financing and development, marketing and distribution, as well as building a community of filmmakers in the region.
Ruth Anne Stevens-Klitz, Cultural Attaché at U.S. Embassy Cairo stated: “The connection between the Egyptian and U.S. film industry is twofold; first in the widespread distribution of American films within Egypt and second with the mentoring and cultural exchange opportunities offered by programs like Global Media Makers.” She added that they are thrilled to celebrate the program's impact on Egyptian filmmakers.
Film Independent President Josh Welsh expressed excitement about deepening support for regional filmmakers: “Film Independent is excited to deepen its support of filmmakers across the region,” he said. He emphasized that GMM is central to their mission of supporting international visual storytellers.
Launched in 2016, GMM facilitates cultural exchanges by bringing filmmakers from Egypt and neighboring regions to Los Angeles for a six-week residency where they develop projects under mentorship from leading U.S. film industry professionals. Over three years, 180 mentors have engaged more than 500 participants through workshops across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Notably, seven GMM projects have been produced so far including Amr Salama’s "Sheik Jackson," Egypt’s official Oscar submission for Best Foreign Language Film.
Supported by a partnership between the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and Film Independent—a non-profit organization advocating for independent filmmakers—GMM exemplifies how cultural exchanges can foster international partnerships.
Further information about these exchange efforts can be found on the U.S. Embassy's website or through their social media channels @USEmbassyCairo.