Khaled El Hagar was born in Suez, Egypt in 1963, obtained a degree in Law from Cairo University in 1987, worked as assistant director to Youssef Chahine on three films, and worked with multiple other national and international film productions in Cairo before moving to the UK in 1994 to acquire a post graduate degree (with support from the Ford Foundation) in film directing and writing at The National Film and TV School of Beaconsfield.  Mr. El Hagar’s films have been shown in more than 150 international film festivals, including Cannes, Montréal, New York, and Rotterdam. He has won 27 international and national awards for his films and has been called by the English press the Egyptian answer to Pedro Almodovar.

The depth and range of the work of Mr. El Hagar is remarkable as he moves between cultures and genres with incredible ease and dexterity. “The vibrancy of Egyptian cinema is very well represented in the work of Khaled El Hagar” says Reinaldo Barroso-Spech, Co-Director of ADFF 2009. “We are very happy to have sustained with him a long term relationship that continues today with his participation in the Filmmaker In Residence Program in the context of ADFF 2009.”

His film “Women’s Love” (“Hob El Banat”), which was a critical and popular success in Egypt, will be presented as well as five of his other films including “Stolen Kisses” (“Kobolat Masroka”), a strong social commentary on Egyptian society, and the musical comedy “None But That!” (“Mafeesh Gher Keda!”) both to have their New York premiere in the context of the festival.  Also to be screened in ADFF 2009 is the controversial film “A Gulf Between Us” which presents the drama of a love affair between a Jewish woman and a Muslim man in the UK, during the charged period that followed the Gulf War.

Mr. El Hagar will be in New York City from Saturday, December 6 to Monday, December 14 to participate in Q&A’s during the screenings of his films, and during the Conversation with the Filmmaker in Residence panel.

KHALED EL HAGAR: ADFF 2009 FILMMAKER IN RESIDENCE