Al Jazeera is one entity that everyone across the Arab world watches. Arabs are proud of that.

Al Jazeera is demonized by the United States, yet in Egypt my father would be watching it.

As the world is getting smaller, it becomes more and more important that we learn each other's dance moves, that we meet each other, we get to know each other, we are able to figure out a way to cross borders, to understand each other, to understand people's hopes and dreams, what makes them laugh and cry.

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.

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.

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