It's important in any project to remain focused.

It's important in any project to remain focused.

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

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

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

I'm interested in characters that are complex people.

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.