Film My Design Launches 3rd Edition Celebrating Design & Humanity

In a world where the lines between the physical and digital realms are increasingly blurred, the significance of design becomes ever more profound. Running from October 3rd to 12th, the third edition of Film My Design - a Cairo-based film festival dedicated to documenting the journeys of design—explores this theme with a focus on ‘Designing Our Lives for a Better Future’  at Zawya Cinema in Downtown Cairo. 

Design, far from being confined to aesthetics, plays a transformative role in shaping our environments and lives in unexpected ways. Our values, narratives, and collective aspirations—no matter how subtle—are woven into the very fabric of the spaces we inhabit. These elements shape the future being constructed, whether consciously or not. 

Film My Design not only highlights the importance of embedding human values and ethical principles into design to avoid disastrous consequences but also celebrates the diversity, creativity, and innovation that propel our lives forward. 

From the towering buildings that define our city skylines to the smartphones connecting people across oceans, every facet of design reflects human creativity, resilience, and our shared drive to envision better worlds. This vision will unfold through a carefully curated selection of films, interactive experiences, masterclasses, panel discussions, and city tours that bring Cairo’s dynamic design scene to life. 

This year’s festival includes eight distinct sections, with a special segment titled ‘Cinema of Exile: The Other Perspectives on Reclaiming Palestine.’ Dedicated to amplifying hope and fostering unity, this section features a curated trilogy of films that underline our shared humanity and the power of cinema as a tool for global solidarity. 

Section 01: ​​Design in Living 

The films and discussions featured in this section tackle crucial themes of sustainability, inclusivity, and social responsibility, encouraging us to reflect on the far-reaching impact of our creative decisions. 

A Terrible Beauty 

By Iram Ghufran

Friday 04 Oct. 

5:30 - 7:30 pm 

Cambium 

By Maddi Barber & Marina Lameir

Wednesday 09 Oct.

7:30 - 9:30 pm 

A Journey into Architecture Archives

By George Arbid

Saturday 05 Oct. 

7:30 - 9:15 pm

A Plan for Paradise 

By Kati Juurus

Saturday 05 Oct. 

4:30 - 7:00 pm

Green Over Gray

By Francesca Molteni & Mattia Colombo

Saturday 05 Oct. 

6:30 - 8:15 pm

TerraForma 

By Kevin Brennan & Laurence Durkin

Sunday 06 Oct. 

4:30 - 6:35 pm 

Fashion Reimagined 

By Becky Hutner

Monday 07 Oct. 

7:30 - 10:00 pm

Sukwan’s Island 

By Perihan Incegöz & Jonathan Tremblay

Sunday 06 Oct. 

7:00 - 9:15 pm 

Bawa’s Garden

By Clara Kraft Isono

Sunday 06 Oct. 

4:30 - 6:45 pm 

I Didn’t See You There 

By Reid Davenport

Friday 11 Oct.

5:30 - 7:45 pm 

Iraq’s Invisible Beauty 

By Jurgen Buedts & Sahim Omar Kalifa

Saturday 12 Oct. 

4:30 - 7:00 

Section 02: Design in Film 

This section delves into the artistry of cinematic craftsmanship, where each film is more than just a story—it's a meticulously designed creation. 

I Thought I Was Going to Make a Poetic Film With My Brother 

By Ahmed Al-Kayal

Tuesday 08 Oct.

7:30 - 9:00 pm 

Pictures of Ghosts

By Kleber Mendonça Filho

Sunday 06 Oct. 

7:00 - 8:45 pm 

Waiting for Gaza

By Guillaume Kozakiewiez

Saturday 05 Oct. 

4:30 - 6:00 pm

Section 03: Design in Motion

This section explores the fusion of design, animation, video production, and technology, encompassing a range of applications, including short and long-form 2D and 3D animations, stop motion, and motion graphics. 

Boolean Vivarium 

By Nicolas Bailleul

Friday 11 Oct.

8:00 - 10:30 pm 

Johnny & Me 

By Katrin Rothe

Thursday 10 Oct.

9:00 - 10:45 pm 

Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo

By Marya Zarif & André Kadi

Friday 04 Oct. 

5:30 - 8:00 pm

Section 04: Film My Design Co-Lab 

Five locally produced short films will have their world premiere at the festival as part of the Film My Design Co-Lab program (2022-2023), formerly known as the Emerging Local Talents program. This 7-month, workshop-based mentorship initiative brought together carefully selected aspiring designers and filmmakers to collaborate and respond to the program's theme, 'Mission Green,' addressing environmental and climate change challenges in Egypt through the perspectives of design, architecture, and urban life. 

Section 05: Spotlight on Palestine 

This program section, titled 'Cinema of Exile: The Other Perspectives on Reclaiming Palestine,' seeks to highlight global viewpoints advocating for change and Palestinian rights through the powerful mediums of visual storytelling and cinema. 

A House in Jerusalem 

By Muayad Alayan

Wednesday 09 Oct.

7:30 - 9:00 pm  

Lyd

By Rami Younis & Sarah Ema Friedland

Monday 07 Oct. 

7:30 - 9:00 pm 

Fadia’s Tree

By Sarah Beddington

Friday 11 Oct.

8:00 - 10:30 pm

Section 06: Short Films Programs 

The short film programs offer a curated selection from the festival’s three key focus areas: Design in Living, Design in Film, and Design in Motion. Each program presents a unique exploration and interpretation of the festival’s overarching theme, 'Designing Our Lives for a Better Future,' ranging from deeply personal stories to broader collective experiences. 

The Fabric of Existence: A Multifaceted Exploration 

Our Uniform

By Yegane Moghaddam

Monday 07 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Square The Circle 

By Hanna Hovitie

Monday 07 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Behind the Sun 

By Bentley Brown

Monday 07 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm  

Hardly Working 

By Total Refusal

Monday 07 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Fractured Futures: A Dare Look into the Abyss 

Gazing...Unseeing

By Mohamed Abdelkarim

Friday 04 Oct. 

8:00 - 9:00 pm 

SOW

By Agostina Ravazzola

Friday 04 Oct. 

8:00 - 9:00 pm 

The Moon Also Rises

By Yuyan Wang

Friday 04 Oct. 

8:00 - 9:00 pm

Flatastic 

By Alice Saey

Friday 04 Oct. 

8:00 - 9:00 pm 

Lost & Found: Echoes of What We Know 

Bluebird in the Wind 

By Ellis Kayin Chan

Wednesday 9 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

I Come from the Sea  

By Feyrouz Serhal 

Wednesday 9 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

As I Open My Eyes

Ghazzal Abdullah

Wednesday 9 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Zoo

By Tariq Rimawi

Wednesday 9 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

As If No Misfortune Had Occurred in the Night

By Larissa Sansour & Søren Lind

Wednesday 9 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

On the Edge of Battle: With(in) and With(out)

Lick a Wound 

By Nathan Ghali

Tuesday 08 Oct.

9:30 -11:00 pm

A Beautiful Excuse for A Deadly Sin

By Hashim Sharaf

Tuesday 08

Oct. 9:30 -11:00 pm

Closure

By Mooney Abu Samra

Tuesday 08 Oct.

9:30 -11:00 pm 

3350 KM

By Sara Kontar

Tuesday 08 Oct.

9:30 -11:00 pm 

Shifting Grounds: Landscape in Transition

In Praise of Slowness 

By Hicham Gardaf

Sunday 06 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

When the Mountain Rumbles

By Alba Bresolí

Sunday 06 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Aralkum 

By Mila Zhluktenko & Daniel Asadi Faezi

Sunday 06 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Dreams in Motion: An Odyssey into the Human Spirit

Madeleine

By Raquel Sancinetti

Friday 11 Oct. 

5:30 - 7:45 pm 

To You

By Wafa Lazhari

Friday 11 Oct. 

5:30 - 7:45 

The Tornado Outside

By Maria Tomazou

Friday 11 Oct. 

5:30 - 7:45 

DUCK

By Rachel Maclean

Friday 11 Oct. 

5:30 - 7:45 

Fragments of Hope: From Ashes to Eden 

Neighbour Abdi 

By Douwe Dijkstra

Saturday 05 Oct. 

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Shafāfiyyāh

By Batoul Faour

Saturday 05 Oct.

9:30 - 10:45 pm 

Section 07: Motion Design Exhibition 

Film My Design festival is hosting the first travel edition of the Design in Motion (DEMO) festival in Egypt, showcasing over 400 motion design works by regional and international designers and artists.

Section 08: VR Screening

This section features a selection of virtual reality films, providing immersive and interactive experiences for the audience.