Latest news with #AhmedMalek
Al-Ahram Weekly
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Acting is my life's greatest passion: Ahmed Malek at Alexandria Short Film Fest - Screens - Arts & Culture
During a masterclass at the 11th Alexandria Short Film Festival, actor Ahmed Malek opened up about his journey in cinema, creative integrity, and the emotional charge that fuels his craft. Malek is among the honourees of this year's festival, and notably one of the youngest actors to receive the recognition. At 30, he has already carved out a space for himself as a performer of remarkable depth, celebrated not only by Egyptian directors and audiences but also on the international stage. He stands among a select group of young Egyptian actors whose careers span both domestic and foreign productions. His role in the Australian feature The Furnace (2020) marked a turning point in his career, earning him accolades and cementing his cross-cultural appeal. The discussion, held in the atmospheric hall of the Graeco-Roman Museum, began with Malek reflecting on his deep love for acting. 'Acting is the greatest passion of my life. I'm fortunate to work in a profession I love and earn an income from,' he said. Malek was quick to downplay notions of stardom. 'I'm not a symbol of success. I just try to do my part. Success is a big responsibility. God gives according to effort, and when we succeed, we have to keep building on that and preserve it.' Despite recent acclaim—including his widely praised performance in the 2025 Ramadan drama Welad El-Shams, alongside Taha Desouky—Malek remains refreshingly grounded. On the craft Speaking candidly about his approach to the work, Malek emphasized the labour behind each role, noting that the real substance lies in preparation. 'Preparation continues right up to the moment the director says 'Action.' That's when I fully merge with the character and live its details,' he explained. He described inhabiting a character's world as one of the most rewarding parts of acting. While he admires actors who completely transform for a role, Malek said he's still evolving into that kind of depth. 'Some habits or accents might stay with me after filming, but they don't affect who I am once the camera stops.' For Malek, responsibility is key. 'An actor is responsible for his role, and this experience helped me a lot in deepening my performance and refining my tools.' But his reflections didn't stop at the personal. Malek addressed broader political and cultual limitations facing Arab actors in international cinema—particularly stereotyping and limited roles. 'In the past, Arab actors were restricted to roles linked to terrorism. Today, we find ourselves limited to roles of refugees. After what's happening in Palestine, I've lost interest in participating in international works because of their political leanings. I'd rather invest my energy and effort in supporting the film industry here in Egypt and the Arab world—and my family,' he declared. His words resonated deeply, sparking a larger conversation in the room about representation, identity, and cultural agency in global storytelling. Ahmed Malek Born in 1995, Ahmed Malek is widely admired for his range and commitment to emotionally complex roles. He began his career in 2005 with the TV series Ayamna El-Helwa and rose to prominence in 2010 for his portrayal of a young Hassan al-Banna in TV drama El-Gamaah. He earned critical acclaim for his roles in Clash (2016), Sheikh Jackson (2017), and Night/Ext (2018), all of which premiered at major international festivals. His global breakthrough came with The Furnace (2020), which debuted at the Venice Film Festival and earned him two best actor nominations in Australia. He gained further attention with his role in The Swimmers (2022), directed by Egyptian-Welsh filmmaker Sally El-Hosaini. The BAFTA-nominated film opened the Toronto International Film Festival. Malek also starred in Kira & El-Gen (2022), directed by Marwan Hamed, and the short film Matar (2024) by Hassan Akkad, continuing to demonstrate his range across Arab and international cinema with equal skill. Balancing global reach with local roots, Ahmed Malek remains one of the most compelling actors of his generation—unafraid to question the systems around him, while staying true to the passion that brought him here. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Alexandria Short Film Festival kicks off with tribute to Ahmed Malek, Riham Abdel-Ghaffour - Screens - Arts & Culture
The 11th edition of the Alexandria Short Film Festival (ASFF) opened with a vibrant ceremony on Sunday, honouring actor Ahmed Malek and actress Riham Abdel-Ghaffour with the Golden Hypatia Award for their contributions to Arab cinema. Running through 2 May, the festival is being held at multiple venues across the Mediterranean city, including the Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre), the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Metro Cinema, the Alexandria National Museum, and the Graeco-Roman Museum. The opening night featured a musical performance by the El-Anfoushi Ensemble led by maestro Haitham Medhat Bassiouny, and screenings of Hatch (Canada) and Children of Barzagh (UAE). This year's International Fiction Competition includes 20 short films from across the globe, with entries from Iran, Italy, Chile, Lebanon, Australia, Germany, and beyond. The jury is chaired by acclaimed Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah and includes Russian filmmaker Milyausha Aituganova, Spanish director Manuel Peña, French programmer Camille Varenne of Clermont-Ferrand, and Egyptian actress Sherry Adel. The Arab Film Competition features nine titles: We Are in Need of Cosmic Help (Egypt), In-Out (Lebanon, Bahrain), Umm Salama the Matchmaker (UAE), Milk Brothers (Morocco), Zahra (Jordan), One Last Time (Lebanon), When the Shelves Hymnn (Saudi Arabia), Night of Lovers (Egypt), and When the Sea Meets the Sky (Egypt). Additionally, 11 films were selected for the Official Out of Competition segment, including Bogota Story (Colombia), The Surrogate Girl (Turkey), Happy Independence Day (Kazakhstan), The Call (Kosovo), Cleaner (Greece), among others. One notable addition to this year's edition is the AI Film Competition, which presents 13 entries from countries including Algeria, Norway, Tunisia, France, and Egypt — reflecting the rising global interest in artificial intelligence and cinema. The Children's Cinema section will screen eight short films from Qatar, Portugal, the UAE, the US, Tunisia, and Egypt. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Student Film Competition highlights emerging talent through a selection of films — Rasal, Five Stars, Tafida's Cage, The Land of Immortality, Nesma, Tiktak, Qeshta, and Under Control — created by students from institutions including the High Cinema Institute, Beni Suef University, the American University in Cairo, and Helwan University. The animation line-up spans the globe, with entries including Sensitive Strings (UK), Detlev (Germany), Urban Duo (China), The Song of Flying Leaves (Armenia), and Cannot Sleep (Japan). Beyond screenings, ASFF 2025 is offering a robust programme of masterclasses, workshops, and panels — such as Digitizing Artistic Heritage and Challenges of Preserving Cultural Legacy with actors Mahmoud Hemeida and Ahmed Shaker. Highlights include sessions on preserving artistic heritage, special effects (director Ahmed Orabi), and children's cinema. Malek and Abdel-Ghaffour will lead an acting masterclass, while a panel on The Role of Women in Art features actress Entisar and filmmaker Kawthar Younis. A seminar exploring the intersections of artificial intelligence and film will also be held. In support of emerging talent, director Karim El-Shennawy has introduced a new award in memory of his late mother, filmmaker Maha El-Shennawy, aimed at recognizing excellence in student filmmaking. The festival will close with another round of the Golden Hypatia Awards, honouring sound engineer Moustafa Shaaban and filmmaker Emad Maher. This year's official festival poster, designed by Abdelrahman Ahmed, features Alexandria's citadel and boats, symbols of cinematic inspiration. The Palestinian flag appears alongside Egypt's, in a gesture of cultural solidarity. Organized by the Arts' Circle (Dayret Al-Fann) Association, the Alexandria Short Film Festival is a grassroots initiative founded in 2015 by Mohamed Mahmoud, Mohamed Saadoun, and artistic director Mony Mahmoud. Over the past decade, it has evolved into a vital platform for showcasing short films and nurturing emerging voices in Arab and international through 2 May, the festival is being held at multiple venues across the Mediterranean city, including the Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre), the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Metro Cinema, the Alexandria National Museum, and the Graeco-Roman Museum. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Today
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Malek and Desouky: A Friendship That Shines Both On and Off-Screen
At the opening of the Alexandria Short Film Festival, a heartfelt moment stole the spotlight. Taha Desouky honored his close friend, Ahmed Malek, with the prestigious Hypatia Gold Award. As Taha spoke with deep emotion, Malek couldn't hold back his tears — a powerful testament to their unbreakable bond, forged both through friendship and their collaboration in Welad El Shams, which captivated audiences during Ramadan 2025.
Broadcast Pro
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?
Strategic, high-impact publicity – teaser trailers, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes social media content – generates massive anticipation and translates into record-breaking first-week viewership. Ramadan drama is a cultural cornerstone, a battleground for audience attention and a litmus test for entertainment trends across the Middle East. The battle for viewership begins months before a single episode airs. Strategic, high-impact publicity – teaser trailers, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes social media content – generates massive anticipation and translates into record-breaking first-week viewership. Important new trends this year TikTok is the new Ramadan drama arena. It has emerged as the ultimate engagement driver, creating organic virality for series that leverage its power. Ahmed Malek's in-character TikTok videos as Wel3a in Welad El Shams not only trended and built excitement for the show but also drove a surge in streaming for the tracks he featured. Traditionally, behind-the-scenes content was avoided for fear of leaks and spoilers, but TikTok has transformed it into an essential publicity tool that audiences now actively anticipate. The next is a 15-episode series. The shift to 15-episode formats reached a tipping point this Ramadan, with 57% of series adopting this structure, up from 14% last year. Shorter narratives prevent mid-season fatigue, making them a preferred choice for modern audiences. This year also saw a spike in the rise of digital-first Ramadan content. Streaming platforms like Yango Play, Shahid, Watchit, Viu and TOD are no longer just alternatives to TV, they are shaping Ramadan drama consumption. This year, El Mahatta, El Sharnaqa, El Halangi and Wohoosh bypassed traditional television networks entirely, premiering exclusively on digital platforms. Impressively, we are witnessing a generational shift reshaping Ramadan drama. While legends like Nelly Karim and Ahmed El Sakka remain industry staples, rising stars such as Huda El Mofti, Ahmed Ghozi, Ahmed Malek, Taha Dessouky and Yasmina El Abd are driving fresh audience engagement. Producers are actively casting younger leads to attract Gen Z viewers, ensuring content evolves with shifting consumption habits. TikTok has also become a talent incubator, with digital-native creators transitioning to acting. This Ramadan, around 10 TikTokers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia made their acting debuts in major productions, bringing built-in audiences with them. Shari' Al Asha featured four content creators – Lama Al Kanani, Manal Al Ahmed, Maha Al Ghazal and Tarfa AlShareef – while in Egypt, influencers like Dona Emam (Athena), Malak Hassan (Montahy El Salaheya) and Amira Adeeb (3aysha El Dor) stepped into acting roles. Another important factor is music, which has become a defining publicity tool and an integral storytelling device. Nostalgic classics fuelled the emotional impact of Kamel El Adad, Welad El Shams and Lam Shamseya. Layali Al Shumisi released its original soundtrack before its premiere, embedding the series into pop culture early. Similarly, the title track for Esh Esh connected with audiences even before they met the characters on screen. What's Next? The Future of Ramadan Drama At the heart of every successful Ramadan series is a compelling story that resonates, provokes and captivates. Whether controversial, emotional or sensational, a great story is what ultimately sets a production apart. In today's entertainment landscape, cutting through the clutter requires sharp writing and a strategic approach to digital engagement. The most successful productions of 2025 mastered the art of blending strong narratives with high-impact publicity, influencer marketing and streaming partnerships. Mai Abaza is CEO of Publicist Inc., which recently released Ramadan insights report 2025.
Egypt Today
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Ahmed Malek to Receive Hypatia Golden Award at Alexandria Short Film Festival
Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek will receive the Hypatia Golden Award for Creativity at the 11th Alexandria International Short Film Festival, which will take place at the historic Sayed Darwish Theatre. The award honors Malek's expanding influence in Egyptian and international movies and TV dramas. Renowned for his dynamic range and steady ascent in Arab cinema, Malek has earned praise for standout performances in Clash (2016), Sheikh Jackson (2017), and The Swimmers (2022), along with recent roles in international projects and his latest appearance in the hit series Welad El Shams (2025).
