Marouan Omara is a filmmaker, educator, programmer, and arts administrator. His dedication to recognizing and promoting Arab and African filmmaking surpasses his own creative endeavors. He actively produces films that straddle the line between fiction and documentary, employing cinema as a genuine tool for research. His film language revolves around character dynamics, creating a dreamlike connection to the everyday experiences of his society and surroundings. Collaborative filmmaking and the sharing of authorship are core beliefs in his approach to contemporary cinema.
His latest feature-length film, DREAMAWAY, received accolades, being shortlisted for an Oscar nomination in the Egyptian national selection and selected as the best Egyptian film of 2019 by the Egyptian Critics Association. His films have been awarded and screened internationally at major film festivals, including Berlinale, IFF Rotterdam, Karlovy Vary IFF, London FF, Yamagata IDFF, Ji.hlava IDFF, DOK Leipzig, Cairo IFF, El-Gouna FF, and more. Additionally, his works have been showcased in prestigious international museums and events such as Museum für Photographie, Zentrum für Kunst und Medientechnologie Karlsruhe, World Press Photo, and No.W.Here. Marouan's projects have received support from various international institutions, including La Biennale di Venezia, Hot Docs-Blue Ice Fund, IDFA Bertha Fund, Catapult Film Fund, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, The Danish Arts Council, The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, Film-und Medienstiftung NRW, and Westdeutscher Rundfunk channel WDR.
Marouan has also been actively involved in film curatorial work, notably as the Short Film Competition Director at the 43rd Cairo International Film Festival, where his successful leadership contributed to one of the festival's most triumphant editions to date. Recently, his programming work includes events like Ismailia IFF and Goethe Film Week, Cairo. Additionally, as the managing director of the Regional Conference for Arab Independent Cinema (RCAIC), his role is crucial in providing a platform for constructive dialogues and idea exchange among Arab filmmakers, producers, funders, distributors, and industry professionals. Furthermore, He serves as a consultant and mentor for various initiatives, including FilmArche Berlin, Rough Cut Lab Africa, Hot Docs-Blue Ice Film Fund, Doha Film Institute, and Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC).
photo credit to Doreen Schwarz
Marouan is a co-founder of "A Kiss in The Desert" a collective passionately dedicated to nurturing emerging artistic voices in the realm of cinema. The collective focuses on exploring diverse production models and cinematic language, offering support through guidance, mentorship, team consultations, labs, contacts, and co-production partnerships.
Since 2012, Marouan has held the position of Associate Lecturer of Media Production at the German University of Cairo - GUC. In March 2020, he was honored with a medal from The Rotary Club of Egypt in recognition of his significant contributions to Egypt's Cultural and Media Scene.
Omara's films are distributed by various reputable entities, including Wide House in France, Arsenal Institut Für Film und Videokunst in Berlin, Real Fiction Film Distribution in Cologne, MAD Solutions in Egypt, and Tetraktys Films in Cyprus. Additionally, his films can be accessed online through the Doc Alliance Platform.
Filmography:
* The Missing Planet (2025), with Tom Rosenberg. In-development
* Dreamaway (2018), with Johanna Domke
* One plus one makes a pharaoh's chocolate cake (2017), in collaboration with Islam Kamal
* Azziara “The Visit” (2015), with Nadia Mounier, in collaboration with Islam Kamal
* CROP (2013), with Johanna Domke