FMD Festival Launches Its 2nd Edition, Holds Open-air Ceremony

On Wednesday, the Film My Design Festival (FMD) opened with an official ceremony at the AUC Cultural Center.

In a glamorous ambiance, the presenter and co-founder of the ceremony, Farah El Rafei, welcomed FMD guests and thanked all the sponsors that made this event happen, including the U.S. Embassy which is the platinum sponsor of the first Film My Design (FMD) festival in Cairo, supporting the screening of six American films (out of the 30 total to be shown from around the world) and facilitating the visit of Kyle Bergman, the Director, and Founder of New York City’s Architecture and Design Film Festival.

In his address at the festival’s opening conference, the American Ambassador to Egypt, Jonathan R. Cohen, said, "I am delighted to be with you this evening to open the Film My Design Festival – the second edition of the first design-focused film festival in the Middle East and North Africa."

"On behalf of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, I’d like to thank our Film My Design organizational partners. I also thank our hosts at AUC’s Tahrir Cultural Center. And I hope you will join me in offering a warm welcome to Bergman."

In the same spirit, H.E. Cohen mentioned that the U.S. Embassy was delighted to bring Kyle Bergman, who is the founder of New York City’s Architecture and Design Film Festival, which inspired the FMD, to Cairo to give presentations and share insights drawn from his experiences in the field.

“Kyle will be meeting with Egyptian counterparts in architecture and design – including I hope many of you – to discuss how buildings and spatial design connect communities,” the American envoy revealed.

He also recalled that he grew up in California and spent much of his diplomatic career working in global creative capitals like Bangkok, Stockholm, Paris, and New York, and, of course, Cairo. "I’ve seen first-hand the role that architecture and design play in social connectivity and creating joie de vivre. This is undoubtedly the case in Cairo and has been for thousands of years," he noted.

"This first Cairo festival also places a spotlight on contemporary creative talent here in Egypt - including interior designers, architects, artists and storytellers, product designers, culinary experts, educators, and cultural heritage professionals – all of whom contribute to this country and Egypt’s appeal to the world," Cohen added.

Moreover, the American ambassador explained that this unique festival, which has grown to become the largest film festival dedicated to the creative spirit of architecture and design in the Arab world region, will explore the relationship between cities and spaces and the people who live in them.

 "It also delves into priority issues, such as sustainability and climate change, and will encourage audiences to reimagine the use of public and private spaces and cultural heritage sites."

On her part, the FMD cofounder, Israa Mahmoud Ibrahim, revealed that "The FMD 2022 festival brings together creative professionals, architects, and enthusiasts from Egypt and beyond, adding that through a perse series of inspiring film screenings and conversations around furniture, installation, food, and landscape design, as well as architecture, crafts, and urban life, the 2022 program will convey creativity’s ability to bring about the promise, purpose, and change.

“After two years in the making with keen observations and reflections, we are delighted to finally present the 2nd edition of the Film My Design festival with over 30 inspiring film screenings, Q&As, talks, and panel discussions,” El Rafei said.

Later, the festival director and founder of New York FMD, Kyle, was welcomed on stage, expressed his gratitude to all the festival team, and commented, "I would like to thank the US embassy in Cairo for sponsoring this significant event. It’s also a great opportunity for the people of Cairo to take part in this architecture and design event."

"The festival aims to promote a cross-cultural dialogue with prominent and well-established design communities across the globe.”

The festival’s opening ceremony came to an end with solo saxophone performances by talented Egyptian players at the Garden Stage of the AUC Cultural Center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz05U511FOU