Client portrait: How Tarek Mounib is building bridges in FREE TRIP TO EGYPT – and why we all need to listen

In a world that feels ever more divided, many people feel anxious about where things are headed. In the US in particular, as the increasingly volatile presidential election contest has shown, political fall-outs that many people are no longer on speaking terms with their fellow citizens. In response, millions take to Twitter to vent their frustration, others favour the radio phone-in, some invest their time in political activism.

But few concerned citizens of the world follow the path taken by Canadian-Egyptian entrepreneur Tarek Mounib — who decided, in the face of increasing divisiveness and anger directed against ‘the other’ — to offer a reluctant group of right-wing Americans an all-expenses-paid holiday to an Arabic country.

This quest to find out if the simple fact of human connection can overcome complex global divisions is documented in Free Trip to Egypt — a funny, moving, and surprising film about seven Americans learning to live alongside people they had been taught to fear. It’s also a deeply personal film, drawing on Tarek’s roots as the Canadian-born son of Egyptian parents, who was brought up with an Islamic faith that was seldom discussed in public. 

“We wanted to reach out to people who were concerned about the ‘Islamic threat’ and say: ‘Hey, is there something we could do for you?’ It’s not about educating or preaching, it’s about human connection,” explains Tarek.

As 2015 is coming to a close, emotions are mixed. While it's nice to be able to look back at a pretty successful first year for Film & Campaign, my thoughts are elsewhere – in particular with some participants in a documentary I made a couple of years ago, for whom this last day of the year is probably a rather sad one.

• Client: Meridian Hill Pictures, Washington D.C.
• Subject: New website for production company
• NationBuilder Architect: Ben Kempas, Film & Campaign
• Graphic design: Graphicacy
• Archived site: meridianhillpictures.nationbuilder.com

• Client: SITAR / Meridian Hill Pictures, Washington D.C.
• Subject: Youth documentary initiative
• NationBuilder Architect: Ben Kempas, Film & Campaign
• Graphic design: based on the City of Trees theme developed for the same client
• Archived site: sitar-meridianhillpictures.nationbuilder.com (formerly youthdocs.org)

• Client: Self-Realization Fellowship / CounterPoint Films, Los Angeles
• Subject: Documentary release
• NationBuilder Architect: Ben Kempas, Film & Campaign
• Graphic design: based on artwork provided by client
• Website: www.awaketheyoganandamovie.com

• Client: Meridian Hill Pictures, Washington D.C.
• Subject: Documentary in progress
• NationBuilder Architect: Ben Kempas, Film & Campaign
• Graphic design: based on the design for City of Trees by Dan Sharkey, Dizzy Giant
• Domain: www.kramerandsons.com

• Client: Meridian Hill Pictures, Washington D.C.
• Subject: Documentary release
• NationBuilder Architect: Ben Kempas, Film & Campaign
• Graphic design: Dan Sharkey, Dizzy Giant
• Domain: www.cityoftreesfilm.com

Case study: Can we 'sell' a film about a world without money?

A unique love story challenging our collective and personal utopias

• Director: Maja Borg
• Producer: Sonja Henrici, SDI Productions
• Co-producer: Lisbet Gabrielsson Film AB
• Producer of Marketing and Distribution: Ben Kempas
• Outreach Team: Rebecca Day, Demelza Kooij
• Publicist: Alex Rowley, AR:PR

• A film by Ben Kempas
• Produced by Joachim Schroeder, Preview Production
• 52, 58 or 97 minutes

THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE LARGEST-EVER DAM REMOVAL PROJECT

Native Americans on the Klamath River fight for their fish – against an energy corporation. Their struggle may trigger the largest dam removal project in history.