About Me — Sherif M. Awad
Hello, this Sherif M. Awad, born in Egypt, now based in Ecuador. Next to me in my profile image, my Colombian wife, Luz Angela.
For over three decades, I’ve dedicated my professional life to celebrating and promoting cinema around the world. My passion for film began in my hometown of Cairo, Egypt in the 1990s when I started working as a programmer and communications manager for major international film festivals like the Cairo International Film Festival, Alexandria Film Festival for Mediterranean Countries, and Luxor African Film Festival.
In the mid-90s, I transitioned into the business side of film distribution, serving as the marketing manager for the Egyptian regional offices of major American studios like 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Universal, Paramount, MGM and United Artists. My role was to oversee the publicity, promotion, advertising and theatrical/home video distribution of blockbuster Hollywood movies in the Egyptian market.
While continuing my festival programming work, I also became deeply involved in film journalism and criticism. I’ve contributed articles, reviews, essays and interviews to numerous publications over the years including Egypt Today magazine, Variety, International Film Guide, Westchester Guardian, and many more. My writing covers all aspects of cinema — reviews, history, analysis, festival coverage and more.
The small screen has been another avenue for me to explore and share my love of film and music. I’ve produced and written for various entertainment TV shows broadcast across the Middle East on channels like Nile TV, Dream TV, ART and MTV. My programs provided news, reviews and behind-the-scenes looks at both local Arab cinema and foreign/Hollywood films.
In addition to my media work, I’ve served as a jury member for many prestigious international film festivals including Pula, Orenburg, Cinedays, Durban, Karlovy Vary, AfryKamera and more. I’m an active member of critic associations like FEPRESCI and FEDEORA.
More recently, I’ve embraced the digital age by starting my own websites and YouTube channels where I continue interviewing artists from around the world in six languages — Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
Now based in Ecuador after decades in Cairo, my true passion remains the same — using my voice and platform to celebrate the art of cinema and connect movie lovers across cultures. I’m excited to bring my unique experiences and perspectives to the About Me Stories community on Medium. Feel free to connect with me on my website and YouTube to continue exploring our shared love of film! My stories on Medium is not only about entertainment but also about AI, Digital Marketing and Lead Generation, which I think are crucial for someone working online. Thank dear readers.
