After many years of studying politics, human rights and other serious stuff, Anicee ended up working in entertainment TV for 6 years. Passionate about film, she has been producing international segments for the biggest group of broadcasting channels in the Middle East, MBC, including the flagship cinema magazine show Scoop with Raya. You’ll see HER giggling and laughing, interviewing all kinds of important actors & film directors and charming them with her bubbly personality.
Now, a documentary filmmaker and occasional writer, she has a particular fascination for real life characters (in other words, people). Besides her passion for film, Anicee really appreciates fashion. According to this theme, she just completed her first feature film Zip It to be released later this year.
Zip It exposes the challenges a creative and eccentric young man can face in a society where anything unconventional is controversial. Talented Egyptian fashion designer Mohanad Kojak gives access to his out-of-the-ordinary life in Cairo and the resilience it takes to push through and be successful, despite the challenges. An inspiring piece that we can not wait to see!
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
You’re asking in May 2021 so the first thing that comes to my mind is Palestine…It’d make me happy to witness the liberation of this beautiful people. To see the same awakening and compassion that most humans fell towards segregated people in South Africa around the 90s and until today, without it having to be a debate but just a simple recognition and end of the horrors of apartheid.
A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY
I don’t know that I’m that creative…But I guess my mum made me participate to all the drawing competitions or photography contests and I won a few! Also, I was part of a theatre band from a young age up until I graduated, which I guess was a great way to come out of my shell as I was very shy.
BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION WAS
Being around my mum. And I guess my siblings…we always build stuff out of nothing with my brothers, film the most random videos (like I have hours of footage of snails or drone footage of us doing stupid things)…
THE PROJECT YOU LOVED MOST
My latest documentary ‘Zip It’/ ممكن أقول حاجةabout resilience to being yourself in a society where anything unconventional is deemed controversial.
THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED MOST
‘Zip It’ didn’t come out yet…and all my other films were shorts, things I did for fun or documentaries that came out on MBC that no one knew I worked on…so I think what others loved most was when I was working on Scoop with Raya with Raya Abirached cause we were always traveling the world, interviewing celebrities and talking about the latest movies etc…my life and content even on Instagram were a lot more glamourous haha!
THE BEST THING ABOUT EGYPTIAN CREATIVITY IS
The unapologetic explosions of colors, patterns, textures and motifs…what must be an abondance of love translated into decorations…the way they can turn the cheapest things into works of art. Like those kites that fly over the city, the painted trucks, and of course the most serious craftmanship and hand work they are known for like khayameyas, glassblowing etc…
BEST STATEMENT OF EGYPTIAN HUMOR
That you have no freedom of speech yet the best political jokes around.
ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTERS, RELATED TO EGYPTIAN CREATIVES
Hire us! (and just pretend like your deadlines is 3 weeks earlier that your actual deadline).
BEST PLACE IN CAIRO
The flat I grew up in, in Maadi.
BEST PLACE IN EGYPT
Anywhere outside of Cairo.
MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT EGYPT, IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD IS
That the pyramids are somewhere far away in the middle of the desert…
EGYPT SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR
Its creativity, its humour, its culture, its history, its beach spots, its good weather, its lovely people…I could go on and on and on
YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY
It’s cute, get into it 😉
YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY
I’d barter my life away. Most jobs I have at the moment I’m not paid for, I either do in exchange for people that have worked on my documentary for free, or just because I love the project. I do of course have to do paid jobs to eat and sustain my lifestyle (please remind me to prioritize these in the future!) because that’s how this system functions. But I’d love a world where you could pay in potatoes and stuff.
AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE
‘At Night, They Dance’ the documentary and my Instagram highlights for loads of more recommendations of stuff to watch.
AN EGYPT BASED FEMALE TALENT THAT DESERVES TO BE PROMOTED AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AS EXPONENT OF LOCAL CREATIVE SPIRIT
Celine Raffy, Mariam ElReweny, Bushra Mettawa…just 3 ladies I’ve worked with recently that, more than just for the fantabulous work they do, I love and want to support for the humans they are.
Check out more about what Anicee has been up to, on her Instagram page, here.
Featured image by Mohammad Fadel @elmovadel. Gallery from Anicee’s personal archive.