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Jehane Noujaim Biography

Film director

Jehane Noujaim is an Egyptian-American documentary filmmaker born on May 17, 1974. Her work focuses on political and social change in the Middle East and North Africa, known for its unique perspective and in-depth investigation.

People World Creativity Incredibles Hardship Capture Filmmaking

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“I'll continue making films because I love being able to drop into other people's worlds. My goal is to be constantly learning.”

People World Able Film Goal Love Is Constantly Learning

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“Al Jazeera is demonized by the United States, yet in Egypt my father would be watching it.”

States Would Be Father United United States Als Egypt

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“In making films, I'm constantly looking for people who are in conflict and who are going to surprise you and challenge you.”

People Film Challenges Conflict Surprise

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“When I hear the words 'activist filmmaking,' I think of somebody who's an activist, who wants to prove a particular point.”

Thinking Want Particular Prove Activist Filmmaking

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“Being a filmmaker is kind of like being a glorified spy.”

Kind Filmmaker Spy

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“I've discovered I can't make a film about people I dislike.”

People I Can Film Dislike

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“You know, Arabs are critical of United States foreign policy, but they also associate the U.S. with democratic principles and opportunity.”

Knows States Opportunity United Principles United States Policy Democratic Critical Foreign Policy Associates

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“It's important in any project to remain focused.”

Important Projects Focused

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“If you can laugh with somebody and relate to somebody, it becomes harder to dehumanize them. I think that most of what we are constantly bombarded with in terms of media leads you to a creation of 'the Other' and a dehumanization of 'the Other,' and it's very much an us-versus-them conversation.”

Ifs Thinking Term Laughing Media Creation Conversation Harder Relate Versus Dehumanization Bombarded Bombarded By

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“I'm interested in characters that are complex people.”

People Character Complexes

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“I have actually been very fortunate to be able to make films on my own credit card without having huge funders behind me dictating how the story should be told.”

Should Stories Able Film My Own Behinds Huge Credit Cards Fortunate Credit Card Dictating

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“I used to do volunteer work in poor areas of Cairo, and people would gather their money together to get a satellite dish. You'd see them huddling around and for the first time seeing issues being debated on TV that had never been talked about before. And that is the biggest promoter of democracy you could possibly have.”

People Firsts Together Used Poor Democracy Issues Seeing Tvs First Time Areas Dishes Volunteer Satellites Promoters Cairo Volunteer Work

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“There are these very poor communities on the outskirts of Cairo called Mokattam, where a lot of the garbage collectors live. I used to volunteer there, doing health and education work when I was younger and living in Egypt.”

Used Community Poor Volunteer Egypt Garbage Collectors Cairo Health And Education

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“Al Jazeera is one entity that everyone across the Arab world watches. Arabs are proud of that.”

World Watches Proud Als Entity Arab World

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“Traveling around the world during the World Cup in 2006, I was thinking, 'Wow, this is such an incredible and global event.'”

Thinking World Events Incredibles Cups Around The World Wow World Cup

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“Look at the Civil Rights Movement. Look at any kind of fight for change. People had to keep fighting and taking their rights. Rights are never given to you. They have to be fought for and they have to be taken.”

People Looks Kind Fighting Given Taken Rights Movement Civil Rights Civil Rights Movement Civil Right Movement

Author:Jehane Noujaim

“As the world is getting smaller, it becomes more and more important that we learn each other's dance moves, that we meet each other, we get to know each other, we are able to figure out a way to cross borders, to understand each other, to understand people's hopes and dreams, what makes them laugh and cry.”

People Knows World Way Important Dream Inspiration Able Moving Motivation Laughing Cry Figures Crosses Borders Hopes And Dreams Dance Moves

Author:Jehane Noujaim

About the Author

Born: May 17, 1974
Known for: Film director
Quotes: 18

Books & Sources

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Jehane Noujaim Biography

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