The students produced the film last spring as part of the Camera and Editing course taught by Mohammad Badawi, adjunct faculty and senior technical supervisor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. 

"I am truly delighted by the results," said Badawi. "It brings me immense joy to see my students' work recognized in prestigious festivals. While I provided them with the tools to create films, it's their creative minds, passion and dedicated efforts that were the driving force behind their success."

The film showcases life on an Egyptian farm, highlighting "In a creatively executed back-and-forth interview while in action style," as Badawi put it, how farmers endure extreme challenges and hardships. "Drama and journalism intersect within the framework of serialism," explained Badawi.

"I learned that leaving your comfort zone can sometimes open up new opportunities and experiences."

For the students, the experience was transformative. 

"I learned that leaving your comfort zone can sometimes open up new opportunities and experiences," said Toutounji, an integrated marketing communication major. "At first, when we were brainstorming ideas for the documentary, I remember thinking this would be very tough and executing it well would take a lot of effort. But when we went [to film], everything came together."

Echoing the same sentiment, Sabri, an integrated marketing communication major, noted, "I felt so proud and appreciated. All the hard work, sleepless nights and struggles paid off." 

For Sabri, the topic of the film is dear to her heart. "My childhood has always been inspired by countryside tranquility.," she said. "Filming in rural scenery [showed us] how beautiful nature is: cleaner air, quieter life and well-intentioned people."

"It was incredibly hot and sunny on filming day, which made executing some of our shots difficult. But speaking to our interviewees and hearing their stories made us more determined to share their struggles."

The students faced challenges but were persistent in their goal.   

"Filming the documentary was quite tough," said Toutounji. "It was incredibly hot and sunny on filming day, which made executing some of our shots difficult. But speaking to our interviewees and hearing their stories made us more determined to share their struggles. Receiving this award is truly gratifying, as it validates all the dedication and hard work we’ve put into this project. None of this would have been possible without the guidance of our professor, Dr. Mohammad Badawi."

El Omary, a communication and media arts major with a minor in film, described the project as "one of the best" she's worked on. "We struggled a bit while traveling with the equipment, trying to gather as much material as we could in a short time with extremely hot weather and busy schedules, so there was no room for any repetition or ruined material," said El Omary. "We managed to divide the roles between us in a smooth way that made everything flow easily."

The judging panel comprised a distinguished group of Egyptian media professionals, including prominent directors, journalists, TV hosts, as well as public relations and advertising experts. 

Meet our keynote speakers for the undergraduate and graduate commencements, respectively: AUC Trustee Ahmed Galal Ismail '97, CEO and board member of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, and Nabil Fahmy '74, '77, dean emeritus of AUC's School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and Egypt's former minister of foreign affairs.

Ahmed Galal Ismail '97

Ahmed Galal Ismail is the chief executive officer and a member of the Board of Directors at Majid Al Futtaim Holding, a leading organization in shopping malls, retail and leisure across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. With assets exceeding $18 billion and 44,000 employees, the company stands at the forefront of development in the region. 

Ismail's tenure at Majid Al Futtaim spans 16 years, during which he held multiple executive roles. He recently served as the chief executive officer of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, overseeing the company's diverse portfolio of shopping malls, hotels and mixed-use communities across multiple countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and Lebanon. Prior to this, Ismail led Majid Al Futtaim Ventures, managing seven business verticals such as leisure and entertainment, cinemasa nd consumer finance. 

Before joining Majid Al Futtaim, Ismail worked with Procter and Gamble in Egypt and Germany, followed by a role at Booz Allen Hamilton as a principal, advising organizations in retail, media, tourism and transportation sectors. 

Ismail serves on the Board of Endeavor UAE and the Arab Investment Bank. He is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s CEO Alliance for Climate Change an AUC trustee. He holds an MBA with distinction from the London Business School and a BSc in computer science from AUC.

Nabil Fahmy '74, '77

Nabil Fahmy, dean emeritus of AUC's School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and Egypt's former minister of foreign affairs, is a distinguished diplomat and academic leader. With over three decades of diplomatic service, he held key roles, including ambassador to the United States and Japan, focusing on international and regional security, disarmament, conflict resolution and Arab-Israeli diplomacy. 

Fahmy also served as chairman of the United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters and vice chairman of the General Assembly’s First Committee on Disarmament and International Security. He represented Egypt at numerous conferences, including Review Conferences of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the United Nations Conference on Promoting International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the 1991 Madrid Middle East Peace Conference. He has been instrumental in both shaping Egypt's foreign policy and contributing to international security and conflict resolution efforts. 

At AUC, Fahmy established the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and served as its founding xean. He is also the founder and chairman of LYNX Strategic Advisors, providing support to international and domestic firms in pursuing best business practices. Fahmy is a member of the Supreme Advisory Board of the Beijing Forum and has received honorary recognitions, including the Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japanese Emperor Naruhito. 

Fahmy's book Egypt’s Diplomacy in War, Peace and Transition was published in English in 2020, with an updated Arabic version titled At the Center of Events released in 2022. He holds a BSc in physics and mathematics and an MA in management from AUC. He regularly contributes syndicated articles on global and international affairs, Middle East politics and governance in both Arabic and English publications.