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.

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

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

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

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.

It's incredible to see the creativity, beauty and hardships people capture when filmmaking is opened up and shared with the world.

I'm interested in characters that are complex people.