Interviews

Double Oscar winner Chirstoph Waltz joined a stellar cast for Alexander Payne’s critically acclaimed science fiction comedy Downsizing.

Set in the near future, Norwegian scientists have developed a process for shrinking humans to tiny figures about five inches tall but the benefits, they believe, for mankind could be gigantic – each tiny being will only consume a fraction of what a regular sized man or woman does, saving rapidly diminishing food and energy resources in the process. Matt Damon plays Paul Safranek, a regular guy struggling to make ends meet as a physical therapist, who, along with his wife, Audrey (Kristen Wiig), decides to ‘downsize’ and go and live in Leisure Land. After Paul goes through with the procedure, he discovers that the same old problems exist – his rascally charming Serbian neighbour Dusan – played by Christoph Waltz – is making a fortune smuggling contraband and there’s an underclass of workers, mostly immigrants, who clean for the rich. Here is Waltz on his role in ‘Downsizing.’

It took Asma Sherif Moneer’s vigorous soul, competent skill, and modern mentality to be a gloriously premium makeup artist. Her exclusive flair outstandingly shined in the field of makeup art while she worked with some glamorous celebrities like Yosra El Lozy, Riham Abdel Ghafour, and Salma Abu Deif. Through her deep passion for makeup, she aspires to reach every woman out there and motivate them to follow their wildest dreams. Take a glimpse of Asma’s professional world, from top beauty Dos and Don’ts to some personal thoughts and mottos.

One event that remains the talk of the town months after the inauguration of its first edition is the luxuriously organised El Gouna Film Festival (GFF), where innumerous international celebrities were seen and many a talented star was awarded. The annual event, which we will now impatiently await every year, has proved to be a high-flier in the film industry, the success of which can be attributed to Amr Mansi, his partners Bushra Rozza and Kamal Zadeh, along with the trio’s ingenious team  We asked the former professional squash player who ranked 50th worldwide, and the founder of I-Events, how he went from an international athlete to an inspirational entrepreneur. Check out what he told us.

Behind his buoyantly lively interviews with international superstars and annual covering of film festivals is a surprisingly unostentatious man, who finds his greatest joy in reading a good book amidst the quietude of nature. Famously lauded as the only Egyptian television host who features international icons including Luis Fonsi and Claudia Clardanale on the ‘OnEnt’ network, Sherif Nour El Din has narrated to us his story in the media starting day one. Check out what he told us!

Best known for his most recent scripts for the Tarek Alarian films ‘El Khaleya’ (The Cell) and ‘Welad Rizk’ (Sons of Rizk), both of which saw immediate critical acclamation upon their release, Salah El Gehiny has successfully established himself as one of the Middle East’s contemporary icons in filmmaking with a blazing trail of unconventionally ingenious works. The screenwriter and filmmaker tells us how he got started, how he met Tarek Alarian, and gives advice to aspiring young writers.

Mai Abdullah, a young Egyptian ‘Ostraka’ award winner, has mastered the art of sculpting statues, following in the footsteps of classical artists. With numerous awards won before graduating from art school, she’s already been certified as a professional and now has many of her projects showcased in locally prominent art galleries. The contemporary artist shares with us her experience in the field and talks about her personal thoughts and motives.

The lavish jewellery of ‘House of Select’ has been around for what’s now nearing a decade, and it has since garnered a reputation for designing unique, opulent pieces that harmoniously coalesce heritage with luxury. You’d think that a family business that has gone this far would sit back and let their diverse staff create the resplendent designs the brand has always been known for, but to our surprise, every single one of their collections turns out to be a product of the brilliant minds of the Abdou Yousseff family that work with the help of professionals from around the globe. We had the pleasure to speak with Mina Abdou Yousseff, the founder’s successor, about the brand’s process of creation and how he continues this legacy of splendour.

The inspirational adventurer, Hamsa Mansour, was delightfully rousing to speak to on her travels and astounding future plans. Though it’s difficult for us to believe, Mansour says she wasn’t always the energetic daredevil she is today; her mental and physical transformation are what truly establish her as an influential adventurer, whom we anticipate will soon be widely recognised around the globe that she will continue to trek. Most importantly, the journey she’s about to commence this November will prep her to become the first female cyclist to solo-cycle Egypt in 2019. As she flouts conventions and orthodox lifestyles, Mansour’s progressing journey is the epitome of oneness with nature and intrepidity.

As they utilize technology to liberate their imagination, graphic designers have leapt into the art scene, creating a sub-industry that became a strong pillar to the realm of art. The adroit Ghada Wali, who made it to Forbes List 30 Under 30 –Europe– in Arts, has mastered graphic design and vaulted to sudden prominence. Through telling us about her methods to strike such success and sharing the challenges that may hinder any designer, she reveals her unique thoughts and personality.

After hearing about how our favourite English comedian, Eddie Izzard, might possibly be giving up on comedy to focus on becoming the first transgender MP, he’s back with new surreal material, ramping up his acting career like never before. Izzard plays Bertie in his latest film, Victoria & Abdul. Check out our interview with the brilliant actor on the film, his career, and his political plans.