Hamed possesses an extensively auspicious repertoire that extends over 20 years of experience in producing as well as directing films, in addition to directing over 300 commercials, TV drama series and music videos.
Graduated from the High Institute of Cinema in 1999, Marwan Hamed started his cinematic career in 2000 as a Director Assistant in the filmSouq Al Motaa. During his studies, he directed two short films and several documentaries, but what stood out from the crowd was his 40-minute Lilly, starring Amr Waked as a promising talent. Based on a short story by renowned Writer YousefIdrees, the film was a great success, garnering various international awards including Prix du Public at Clermont Ferrand Film Festival, the Golden award at the Carthage Film Festival and Silver prizeat Milano Film Festival for African Cinema.
Hamed possesses an extensively auspicious repertoire that extends over 20 years of experience in producing as well as directing films, in addition to directing over 300 commercials, TV drama series and music videos.
Graduated from the High Institute of Cinema in 1999, Marwan Hamed started his cinematic career in 2000 as a Director Assistant in the filmSouq Al Motaa. During his studies, he directed two short films and several documentaries, but what stood out from the crowd was his 40-minute Lilly, starring Amr Waked as a promising talent. Based on a short story by renowned Writer YousefIdrees, the film was a great success, garnering various international awards including Prix du Public at Clermont Ferrand Film Festival, the Golden award at the Carthage Film Festival and Silver prizeat Milano Film Festival for African Cinema.
Marwan’s first feature The Yacoubian Building was the gateway to his success and was considered a big hit in 2005.Holding the record forthe highest production budget film in Egyptian Cinema history to datewith an all-star cast including the megastarsAdel Imam and Yousra, the film was distributed in 12 countries across Europe, South America and the Arab world. The film dominated the Egyptian box office for the entire summer season in 2006and received around 200,000 admissions in France. The film was screened in a number of eminently distinguished film festivals including Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama section, the AFI Film Festival in USA, theCannes Film Festival, theLondon Film Festival in London, theChicago International Film Festivalin USA, the Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco, and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece.
The YacoubianBuiliding won numerous awards including the BestNew Narrative Filmmaker award at Tribeca Film Festival in 2006, the Golden Eye award at the Zurich Film Festival, Bronze award at the Montreal Film Festival and Grand Prix at Festival du Monde Arab France.
Inspired by true events, Hamed’s second feature film was Ibrahim Labyad, which featured star-studded cast including legendary starMahmoud Abdel Aziz, Ahmed El Sakka, HendSabry, and Amr Waked. The film grabbed the Egyptian audiences’ attention with its realistic portrayal of life in the slums and its abundance of violent details. The film was screened in Le Marche du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, Montreal Film Festival and Sao Paolo International Film Festival.
Marwan also directed the short film 19/19, part of the movie 18 Days, a collection of 10 short films about the January 25th revolution in Egypt, directed by 10 Egyptian directors. The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2011 in the official selection for special screenings. In 2014, Marwan directed El Feel El Azrak (The Blue Elephant), which is a cinematic adaptationofAhmed Mourad’s best seller novel in 2012 of the same name that was listed on the Man Booker Prize 2012 shortlist. Starring Karim Abdel Aziz, Khaled El Sawyand Nelly Karim, the film is a psychological mystery that delves deep into the world of the paranormal.
The Blue Elephant was distributed in Jordan as well as the GCC states and reaped 30,000,000 EGP in 45 days. The Blue Elephant has stolen the scene at the 41stEgyptian Film Association Festival scooping a total of 9 awards including the Best Director and the Best Film awards for Marwan Hamed.
Marwan has directed several songs by renowned singers including Egyptian and international pop-star AmrDiab, the three-time winner of the World Music Award and the bestselling singer in the Arab world. Fascinated by his work in TheYacoubian Building, the megastar Diab selected Marwan to helm his music hit Ne’oul Eh.
Along with films and songs, Marwan’s record boasts over 300 TV commercials for a selection of global brands such as Mercedes, Vodafone, Sprite, Etisalat, TE Data,the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, and Mobinil’s 2013 campaign song MalnashGhyrBaa’d, which had a peerless resonance among Egyptians on the time of its release, reaching 3,615,298 views on YouTube. For his directorial bravura in the former campaign,Mobinilasked Hamed to direct the 2014 campaign’s theme song. Marking the first 5-minute one-shot song, Marwan’s EftahAlbak music video transcended 2 million views on YouTube.
In 2007, Hamed co-founded Lighthouse Films with FadiFahim and Karim Shaker. The company produces TV commercials for the top multi-national advertising agencies, feature and short films and TV content.
Marwan’s talent was recognized as he has been selected as a jury member in a number of highly extolled festivals including head of jury at Child Protection Award, within the framework of Abu Dhabi Film Festival; Montreal Film Festivalin 2010; Montpelier Film Festival in 2008;the Taormina Film Festival in2007; the Human Rights Watch Festival in Zurich; New Horizons Competition at Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
