Ahmed T. Ragheb
Directing
Biography
Ahmed T. Ragheb is an independent filmmaker based in Pittsburgh, PA. He is originally from Cairo, Egypt. Ragheb writes and directs with his partner, filmmaker Lily Ekimian, whom he met in high school. Their work deals heavily with the concepts of identity and place, with a special emphasis on feminism, cultural dislocation, and domestic relationships.
Known For
An Egyptian living and working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reflects on his new surroundings through a series of images and observations. The resulting montage is a poignant cinematic postcard that explores the contradictory nature of the immigrant experience: at once lonely, frightening, and exhilarating.
The Sailor
Ahmed (Ahmed T. Ragheb), an Egyptian-American aspiring actor, anxiously awaiting news of his latest film audition, gives in to his superstitions and sets off on a journey across Pittsburgh, trying to force the hands of fate. Lily (Grace Cooper), a photography student, meanwhile, criss-crosses the city unseen on a journey of her own, photographing and recalling scenes from her past.
Tales of the Marvelous and News of the Strange
When Aziza finally shares a recurring dream, it’s what she leaves unsaid that reveals her fractured sense of self. Aziza’s dream – in which she must sing a song – takes her on a journey through the post-industrial hills of the American Rust Belt, the eternal fields of Egypt, and the most repressed parts of her mind.
She Sings
91-year-old American-born Canadian physicist Anthony S. Arrott spends his days alone in his Vancouver apartment, continuing to work on his research in the field of magnetism. He lives surrounded by the hundreds of faces drawn by his late wife, New York City- and Vancouver-based portrait artist Patricia Graham Arrott. Dr. Arrott is filmed over the course of a five-month period by first-time filmmakers Lily Ekimian (Arrott's granddaughter) and Ahmed T. Ragheb. Dr. Arrott works hard to finish his work as he reflects on his life and marriage in this intimate portrait.
Portrait
A fragmented encounter on a Tuscan train leads to an unsettling meditation on intimacy, violence, and communication in this part-travelogue, part-city symphony.
Florence is for Lovers
A couple’s wedding day and an Amtrak train route are intertwined in this personal exploration of marriage and contemporary America. An enormous story – a train journey, a wedding and a tragedy – all in two minutes. A remarkable example of cinematic economy of means, the film’s brevity does not deter from its impact. Based on true events.