1 00:00:04,833 --> 00:00:08,125 "ICKE KREUZBERG and SLFILM present" 2 00:00:14,708 --> 00:00:18,292 "A film by Atef Ben Bouzid" 3 00:00:26,042 --> 00:00:30,042 "Dedicated to the Egyptian civil society" 4 00:00:50,917 --> 00:00:56,083 At this time, we need to understand each others’ mentalities 5 00:00:56,208 --> 00:01:00,583 and affirm to the whole world that we exist. 6 00:01:01,042 --> 00:01:02,917 Egypt does not rest. 7 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:37,375 Joining us today is Amr Salah, director and founder of the Cairo Jazz Festival. 8 00:01:37,583 --> 00:01:39,000 A warm welcome, Amr. 9 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,167 - Hello, Hi! 10 00:01:40,167 --> 00:01:42,250 - Firstly, congratulations! I'm very excited about the festival. 11 00:01:42,458 --> 00:01:49,125 Thank you. Hopefully, everything will turn out well. A lot of effort has gone into this edition. 12 00:01:49,250 --> 00:01:53,750 The festival will take place at two venues, the Genena Theatre and the Lake Stage. 13 00:01:53,917 --> 00:02:00,542 The Lake Stage is the main stage next to the lake inside the Azhar Park. 14 00:02:00,667 --> 00:02:03,792 - Why don't you tell us about the volunteers, especially the young people? 15 00:02:04,042 --> 00:02:06,500 To be honest, I don't have a big crew. 16 00:02:06,667 --> 00:02:11,208 We have a team that makes you really happy. Really, I'm not joking! 17 00:02:11,292 --> 00:02:15,250 Everyone works with great passion, also the construction workers. 18 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:21,042 Today, the main stage was set up in the park beside the lake. 19 00:02:21,667 --> 00:02:22,875 Everyone’s working with passion. 20 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:27,833 Everyone can see something is happening here and that inspires hope. 21 00:03:22,125 --> 00:03:23,083 Great! 22 00:03:24,583 --> 00:03:27,958 "Jazz makes you think." This is what... 23 00:03:28,833 --> 00:03:30,833 This is what makes Jazz so interesting. 24 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:38,875 People need music that makes them think, not the canned music they keep on hearing. 25 00:03:40,667 --> 00:03:46,583 I feel you are afraid to play this… Generally speaking, not just you… 26 00:03:46,833 --> 00:03:51,000 It’s something people aren’t familiar with, there is a barrier of fear you need to break … 27 00:03:51,375 --> 00:03:52,583 - I constantly break it… 28 00:03:52,583 --> 00:04:01,333 There has to be a brave kind of DJ… who’s going to play this kind of music. 29 00:04:01,917 --> 00:04:03,125 "Who's gonna put this." 30 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:15,792 "CAIRO JAZZMAN" 31 00:04:19,667 --> 00:04:24,083 "THE GROOVE OF A MEGACITY" 32 00:04:36,250 --> 00:04:41,417 "AGOUZA, CAIRO - One month earlier" 33 00:04:47,625 --> 00:04:52,208 I see there is lots of jazz happening here...unconsciously. 34 00:04:53,417 --> 00:04:58,708 "AMR SALAH - Egyptian jazz artist and composer" Inside the rhythm of life, it's so random like modern jazz... 35 00:04:58,708 --> 00:05:05,333 ...coming up with ideas out of the blue like trying to improvise, to solve... 36 00:05:05,333 --> 00:05:12,000 ...issues, situations...that's so much related to jazz. I say that jazz is 'thoughts before notes'. 37 00:05:12,708 --> 00:05:19,375 "Since 2009 Amr Salah has organised the Cairo Jazz Festival on a non-profit basis. He operates with limited funding from embassies and cultural institutions" 38 00:05:20,250 --> 00:05:22,542 It is, it is a big financial risk... 39 00:05:23,917 --> 00:05:25,208 It is! 40 00:05:26,667 --> 00:05:32,208 I am an artist who likes to see something good happening in my country. 41 00:05:32,208 --> 00:05:36,417 So there are so many different motives why I'm doing this. 42 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,583 Like I want to see something bright happening... 43 00:05:41,167 --> 00:05:48,792 I want so see improvement in the cultural scene, improvement in the educational scene... 44 00:05:49,042 --> 00:05:58,000 People need to know jazz is a point a view, a philosophy...It's much more beyond... 45 00:05:58,542 --> 00:06:01,000 ...being a style of music. 46 00:06:01,333 --> 00:06:09,417 What I realised is jazz should be something more deep than a genre of music. 47 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,833 It's so much...It's talking, you know? It's telling you a story. 48 00:06:13,208 --> 00:06:19,458 And actually this is what I think about this special type of music...it is... 49 00:06:20,750 --> 00:06:26,500 It is like a personal...or let's call it a human experience. 50 00:06:26,958 --> 00:06:28,458 It's about freedom. 51 00:06:40,667 --> 00:06:47,208 I like this place actually, I like it because it's...it's got the flavor. 52 00:06:47,208 --> 00:06:49,333 There is a rhythm happening here. 53 00:06:49,333 --> 00:06:52,583 It is a crazy city. Cairo is always crazy... 54 00:06:56,167 --> 00:07:03,333 Yeah, you have to see how you are going to get inspired from a surrounding like that...It's not easy. 55 00:07:05,333 --> 00:07:07,417 You have to look for the inspiration. 56 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:20,750 If I have to put this in jazz terms: This is Avantgarde...This is modern, experimental, spontaneous - weird. 57 00:07:22,292 --> 00:07:27,042 This is weird jazz...it is weird jazz. 58 00:07:28,833 --> 00:07:36,833 But in the end it has the rhythm, you know? It's got the groove. So there is a groove here happening in Egypt. Yeah, there is a groove... 59 00:08:51,708 --> 00:09:01,417 "FEBRUARY 20th, 6 AM - 3 weeks until festival" 60 00:09:28,042 --> 00:09:33,458 "13th of March 2014... live at Azhar Park" 61 00:09:34,292 --> 00:09:39,000 No, no, no. It's "live at Cairo Jazz Festival" and not "live at Azhar Park". 62 00:09:39,333 --> 00:09:43,792 If you are talking about obstacles or challenges: Syndicate of musicians. 63 00:09:48,250 --> 00:09:58,958 Which I hope they won't come and make a problem. You have to pay high taxes...for any non-Egyptian band. 64 00:09:59,583 --> 00:10:08,500 And for the Egyptian bands also...you pay taxes for that. For them this is like a commercial concert... 65 00:10:09,583 --> 00:10:16,125 Like a concert...a music concert. Like some Egyptian bands...like... 66 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:20,833 ...on stage so they need to...Sorry! 67 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:23,917 Hi, Rumi. 68 00:10:25,167 --> 00:10:28,917 We need 1000 posters in DIN A3. 69 00:10:35,333 --> 00:10:37,292 Finally, what's up? 70 00:10:37,292 --> 00:10:42,625 Okay, good. Fine, fine. Bye-bye. 71 00:10:43,500 --> 00:10:53,792 - You are the festival director and you are doing everything from this desk here. - Actually you should have come the year before. I was doing it from the mattress. 72 00:10:54,250 --> 00:11:06,167 Because the kids were here and I had to work in the room, but I did not have a working place in the room. So I had to sit on the couch and do everything there. 73 00:11:06,500 --> 00:11:13,042 You know, it's interesting. You know, I mean in the end we have to see a festival happen! 74 00:11:13,792 --> 00:11:17,542 Okay, mate. No, problem, Bye-bye. 75 00:11:18,792 --> 00:11:22,125 And you need to arrange gigs in the middle of all that. 76 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:33,000 I love to see action happening, you know? Excitement, this brings...progress. 77 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:39,208 The main thing is... we have to include the Facebook page. 78 00:11:40,875 --> 00:11:45,500 The Facebook icon has to be "Cairo Jazz Fest". 79 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:47,500 I'm getting sick... 80 00:11:51,333 --> 00:11:54,417 Every artist has to be on the poster. 81 00:11:57,250 --> 00:11:59,875 How are you doing? I'm fine, thanks! How are you? 82 00:12:02,542 --> 00:12:10,167 Yeah...I sent you, I sent you...last night I sent you everything related to the festival. 83 00:12:15,083 --> 00:12:17,625 Mate, you are the boss. 84 00:12:23,583 --> 00:12:26,292 Okay, good, Bye. 85 00:12:32,958 --> 00:12:36,500 But I already sent them the information... What's going on? 86 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:45,792 This is the first copy of the 2014 program to be sent...to the world. 87 00:12:49,542 --> 00:12:50,917 Send... 88 00:13:05,667 --> 00:13:07,250 It's tea time. 89 00:13:10,667 --> 00:13:22,000 We need to make sure that everybody is satisfied, this is our mission...some day before leaving to Sudan. This is very important. 90 00:13:23,542 --> 00:13:32,750 Actually I am leaving Cairo in a very critical week...That's a very critical week for me. Well, I'll be having a couple of concerts with Naseer Shamma... 91 00:13:35,417 --> 00:13:41,958 And...I cannot say no to Naseer actually. Yeah, we are rehearsing tomorrow. 92 00:13:46,667 --> 00:13:49,333 Everything's gonna be fine... 93 00:13:54,042 --> 00:13:55,458 Do you want a tea? 94 00:13:58,417 --> 00:14:04,042 "NASEER SHAMMA - Renown Iraqi oud player" 95 00:14:26,042 --> 00:14:28,292 We’ve worked together for twelve years now, 96 00:14:28,292 --> 00:14:33,958 he’s been the main piano player in my work 97 00:14:35,250 --> 00:14:41,417 We’ve worked on films, documentaries, TV series. 98 00:14:41,417 --> 00:14:44,792 We’ve worked on many projects together, also my own compositions. 99 00:14:44,792 --> 00:14:50,083 I trust him a lot as a musician, and I trust working with him. 100 00:15:01,542 --> 00:15:03,708 Maybe we can play it like this... 101 00:15:05,333 --> 00:15:08,042 Like... Just like "Roots"... 102 00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:22,042 Amr is a friend, not just a musician I work with. 103 00:15:22,542 --> 00:15:29,750 What makes him special is that he is very widely read. 104 00:15:29,750 --> 00:15:34,208 He knows about many things besides music, and this is very rare for musicians. 105 00:15:34,542 --> 00:15:40,833 because he comes from a well-educated family. 106 00:15:42,958 --> 00:15:49,250 The most important thing is that we know how the melody goes and how the solo goes... 107 00:15:49,667 --> 00:15:51,792 - We have to play the melody one whole time. 108 00:15:52,250 --> 00:15:54,833 We already played it once completely. - And now each will play a solo. 109 00:15:55,375 --> 00:15:59,542 He’s very committed and devoted to his work. He loves it. 110 00:15:59,958 --> 00:16:03,333 He’s actually a pharmacist, he graduated in pharmacology, 111 00:16:03,333 --> 00:16:08,042 but he left it out of his love for music. And the study of music, 112 00:16:08,042 --> 00:16:12,625 which he continued alongside his study of pharmacology. 113 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:18,333 In a country like Egypt or the Arab world in general, when someone finishes studying pharmacology, 114 00:16:18,667 --> 00:16:23,750 just like with medicine, engineering and similar jobs, one would devote himself fully to these jobs. 115 00:16:23,750 --> 00:16:29,333 But out of love for music, he decided to commit himself fully to the music. 116 00:16:29,833 --> 00:16:32,750 So, he is a real musician. 117 00:17:07,250 --> 00:17:11,583 He would always watch me practicing the piano. 118 00:17:11,875 --> 00:17:17,917 He’d come up beside me to take a look: "What’s going on here?“ 119 00:17:17,917 --> 00:17:20,708 "MRS. & MR. SALAH - retired teachers" 120 00:17:20,708 --> 00:17:24,083 So I got him this small piano over there…. 121 00:17:28,583 --> 00:17:36,792 She’s a music teacher who studied at a prestigious music college in Zamalek, in Cairo. 122 00:17:37,250 --> 00:17:40,417 She taught Amr when he was a small child. 123 00:17:40,875 --> 00:17:47,125 The presence of the piano gave him an opportunity 124 00:17:47,625 --> 00:17:52,000 to become proficient in music, 125 00:17:52,458 --> 00:17:53,750 but thanks to whom? 126 00:17:53,750 --> 00:17:59,958 Thanks to his mum here! Because she taught him things, 127 00:18:00,167 --> 00:18:04,792 but he was also prepared, very prepared at a very young age, 128 00:18:05,833 --> 00:18:08,917 when he was three years old for example. 129 00:18:09,333 --> 00:18:13,458 He had memorized the song "There Was A Lady" 130 00:18:13,750 --> 00:18:18,250 this song was very well known back in the days… 131 00:18:18,542 --> 00:18:21,208 The end of the song went something like this: 132 00:18:23,667 --> 00:18:31,417 "All the girls ate the berries, the berries, the berries… and that’s the end of the story." 133 00:18:32,583 --> 00:18:37,708 "How should I play The berries, the berries…? It’s not working!" he said. 134 00:18:38,042 --> 00:18:41,125 Then he lifted the piano in the air...to smash it. 135 00:18:43,875 --> 00:18:46,625 - So, he's always been a difficult character? - Yes, totally! 136 00:18:55,708 --> 00:18:57,625 "That's awful, mum!", he said. 137 00:18:58,833 --> 00:19:02,083 He really said "awful"? - Yes. 138 00:19:02,083 --> 00:19:04,417 "It's totally awful..." 139 00:19:06,167 --> 00:19:09,750 "This is bad...It has to be kicked". 140 00:19:12,208 --> 00:19:14,542 Hi, how are you? - Hi, I'm fine. 141 00:19:14,542 --> 00:19:18,000 Are you nervous? - Yes, it's unfamiliar. 142 00:19:18,292 --> 00:19:20,458 Don't worry, it's also strange for me. 143 00:19:24,083 --> 00:19:25,208 - Jazz? - Do you like it? 144 00:19:25,208 --> 00:19:29,625 "JUNIOR AUDITION FOR FESTIVAL - Art Mania music school" 145 00:19:29,625 --> 00:19:33,000 Sometimes I kinda enjoy listening to it! 146 00:19:41,375 --> 00:19:42,375 Very nice. 147 00:19:42,708 --> 00:19:46,167 When you are alone, do you like your singing? 148 00:19:47,333 --> 00:19:49,750 - Only when I'm in the shower. - In the shower? 149 00:19:49,750 --> 00:19:53,417 So let's go to the bath here then. 150 00:20:01,167 --> 00:20:07,042 So, I kept teaching him about reading music as fast as possible. 151 00:20:07,750 --> 00:20:15,250 He has to learn reading the music quickly and know about musical timings. 152 00:20:15,375 --> 00:20:16,458 You have to read fast. 153 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:20,750 Don't get lost. Because if you do you'll lose yourself. 154 00:20:21,417 --> 00:20:24,083 He asked: "What should I do?" I said: "I'll show you" 155 00:20:24,583 --> 00:20:28,375 Then I kept on teaching him until he could read the music fluently 156 00:20:28,750 --> 00:20:30,833 Just like the newspaper. 157 00:20:32,042 --> 00:20:38,292 Are you able to read notes and chords to play on sight? 158 00:20:39,167 --> 00:20:41,958 - Actually, yes but I need about half an hour... 159 00:20:42,208 --> 00:20:44,292 Half an hour? ... Half an hour! 160 00:20:45,583 --> 00:20:48,625 Just choose what you want to play. 161 00:20:48,833 --> 00:20:50,917 One, two, three, four... 162 00:20:52,125 --> 00:20:55,667 Are you up for a small rehearsal now? 163 00:20:55,958 --> 00:20:58,792 - Now? - Only if you are up to it... 164 00:21:02,458 --> 00:21:09,667 So you would be interested to come to the Cairo Jazz Festival? To see what's going on...There is gonna be a jam session... 165 00:21:10,083 --> 00:21:15,042 Back in the days in his school there was a music room. 166 00:21:15,292 --> 00:21:23,625 His class mates went back into the classroom, when he sneaked into the music room... 167 00:21:24,125 --> 00:21:25,542 to practice the piano there. 168 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:29,667 In the school they were looking for him and reported him missing. 169 00:21:31,125 --> 00:21:33,417 I worked in the neighboring school 170 00:21:33,833 --> 00:21:37,958 and was notified my son was missing. I told them: "This is impossible... 171 00:21:38,750 --> 00:21:42,542 ...he came with me, in the car. It's impossible" 172 00:21:43,500 --> 00:21:47,625 So they looked for him again in the school and finally found him in the music room 173 00:21:47,833 --> 00:21:49,792 playing the piano. 174 00:21:51,375 --> 00:21:53,458 They suspended him for 3 days. 175 00:21:57,500 --> 00:22:00,458 They suspended him for 3 days! - The school was a bit strict... 176 00:22:00,458 --> 00:22:05,708 Because he dared to play the piano without permission. 177 00:22:06,167 --> 00:22:12,083 My fear was he would skip school just to devote himself completely to the music. 178 00:22:12,333 --> 00:22:14,417 So I told him to get his degree 179 00:22:14,958 --> 00:22:18,667 and afterwards, god willing, he could do whatever he wanted. 180 00:22:18,875 --> 00:22:22,333 Most importantly he had to finish his education first. 181 00:22:22,917 --> 00:22:23,750 Don't you agree? 182 00:22:24,458 --> 00:22:29,333 It's great that he creates a nice image of Egypt for the world. 183 00:22:30,583 --> 00:22:33,375 That we also have musicians and artists... 184 00:22:33,625 --> 00:22:36,542 and it's great that something like this exists in Egypt. 185 00:22:37,083 --> 00:22:40,000 Dear god, let everything work out for the festival... 186 00:22:41,792 --> 00:22:44,375 Don't let it rain on the people. 187 00:22:48,250 --> 00:22:53,917 "JUNIOR JAM SESSION - Studio Vibe - Dokki, Cairo" 188 00:23:08,250 --> 00:23:12,042 Just remember the melody...how it goes... 189 00:23:15,250 --> 00:23:18,583 Exactly but play it stronger. 190 00:23:22,958 --> 00:23:28,875 "AHMED MUSTAPHA - Egyptian music teacher" It's really nice to find somebody who wants to involve the community and the society into music... 191 00:23:29,708 --> 00:23:36,917 and wants to enrich Egypt and his country with different experiences and journeys.. 192 00:23:36,917 --> 00:23:44,417 The underground music scene is thriving to make a difference in how people perceive music. 193 00:23:44,667 --> 00:23:54,458 I believe that Egypt has always been stuck somewhere in the 80s and has never been out of this capsule. I don't know how that is in English but the guy who sings pop songs is like 54 years old. 194 00:23:55,250 --> 00:24:00,042 Can you play with both hands? Yes? Then let's go! 195 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:15,833 Exactly! Keep it in your head before going on to the second chord. 196 00:24:20,375 --> 00:24:26,000 Do you understand? Prepare yourself for what follows. In music this is called "anticipation". 197 00:24:29,875 --> 00:24:33,917 So it goes like this...let's try it again. 198 00:24:37,833 --> 00:24:39,083 Yes, that's it. 199 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,625 - Let's explain the "bridge" to them... 200 00:25:13,750 --> 00:25:23,542 Music plays a very, very important part...because...right now, the time we live in, music is a very strong tool. 201 00:25:23,542 --> 00:25:35,083 As long as there is a channel where you can express yourself or the songs you can chant when you are with your friends or songs that you wanna listen to, so that it gives you hope towards a better future to yourself or to the whole community. 202 00:25:35,083 --> 00:25:46,875 We have a chance in keeping hope amongst the younger generation, who has a very confused future because of all the years of corruption we have been through. 203 00:26:09,625 --> 00:26:11,500 Let the groove work its way... 204 00:26:18,875 --> 00:26:24,875 We use the groove, that's called "prosody", or splitting the rhythm... 205 00:27:10,542 --> 00:27:14,875 "CAIRO JAZZ CLUB - 18 days until festival" 206 00:27:59,042 --> 00:28:08,083 I was always a musician, you know? I'm not gonna be anything else except a musician...I'm not the master director of the Cairo Jazz Festival...I mean, I'm not this person... 207 00:28:08,083 --> 00:28:14,333 - In a few hours you will fly with Naseer Shamma to Sudan, to Khartoum...for a music festival, right? 208 00:28:14,333 --> 00:28:24,417 Well, in between actually before going to the airport I need to go to a quick meeting with the Tickets Marché people...for the tickets... 209 00:28:45,958 --> 00:28:56,167 - What is waiting for you when you return to Cairo? - Well, when I come back from the airport I'll go right away to the Azhar Park because I have a meeting with an Azhar Park official... 210 00:29:09,083 --> 00:29:16,542 "ABDEEN, CAIRO - two weeks until festival" 211 00:29:53,708 --> 00:29:58,250 "MICHELLE ROUNDS - Australian jazz singer" 212 00:29:58,250 --> 00:30:06,292 Amr Salah is incredibly busy...not just with the festival, which in my opinion, when you do a jazz festival, this is a full time job for the whole year. 213 00:30:06,917 --> 00:30:16,708 He is not just doing that...He has his own bands, plural! He travels, he tours, he does other festivals - he has a family! 214 00:30:17,083 --> 00:30:22,208 But he handles it very well...he's kind of cool guy, you know? He is a relaxed sort of person. 215 00:30:38,958 --> 00:30:53,542 This is an international festival, the artists are coming from all over the world. And he is doing this kind of - I would say single handedly and I'm not taking away any credit from his incredible team, he has a fantastic team - but it's a small team! 216 00:30:53,792 --> 00:31:02,625 When they are having festivals we will often be mentors or we will do workshops and things like that, this is what it's about. The jazz children, the jazz kids is fantstic! 217 00:31:03,167 --> 00:31:19,917 You know, it's a whole new level...and it's getting the children involved with the music at a very young age. And it's particularly involved with a genre that is not common and that people don't know about. If it was something they are hearing on the radio - no big deal, you know, you are giving them some music, great...but it's jazz! 218 00:31:36,583 --> 00:31:44,750 No matter how a festival goes, no matter what happens - there are always ups and downs...but no matter what happens, at the end of the day...it's about the music. 219 00:31:59,042 --> 00:32:00,917 "AMIR EZZAT - stage manager, Cairo Jazz Festival" 220 00:32:00,917 --> 00:32:03,500 We try to support each other. 221 00:32:03,708 --> 00:32:07,542 So that we are able to help create something like the Cairo Jazz Festival. 222 00:32:07,833 --> 00:32:11,208 Everyone contributes his talent. For instance a designer helps for free. 223 00:32:11,500 --> 00:32:14,417 And I also contribute without getting paid... 224 00:32:14,667 --> 00:32:18,833 Or a radio station comes in and covers the festival for free... 225 00:32:19,458 --> 00:32:20,833 This is what we want to do. 226 00:32:20,833 --> 00:32:24,792 But also we would like support from the government and business sector. 227 00:32:24,792 --> 00:32:26,542 So that they consider us. 228 00:32:27,083 --> 00:32:28,833 - Is there any official support from the state? 229 00:32:29,750 --> 00:32:31,125 It's retarded... 230 00:32:31,667 --> 00:32:36,542 Everything is very slow. It goes through too many hands and departments. 231 00:32:36,542 --> 00:32:39,792 Then they tell you to come next week, then the week after and so on... 232 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:45,917 So you really lose motivation and energy in the application process 233 00:32:46,333 --> 00:32:49,583 and decide to just do it yourself on a low budget level. 234 00:32:50,083 --> 00:32:52,958 Sometimes you only get support on the last day of the event 235 00:32:53,167 --> 00:32:59,792 and it's not enough to cover all the costs. You still have to pay for most of it. 236 00:33:00,083 --> 00:33:06,417 That only one person is responsible for such a big event, 4 days and 15 different bands... 237 00:33:06,792 --> 00:33:10,333 that he takes care of everything, is very difficult. 238 00:33:10,583 --> 00:33:20,792 Additionally he manages transportation, accommodation, the stage, what people eat and drink... 239 00:33:21,458 --> 00:33:25,375 He also takes care of festival events at venues outside the Azhar Park. 240 00:33:25,958 --> 00:33:29,375 That's a big responsibility for just one person. 241 00:33:30,250 --> 00:33:33,708 I want to help him because in the last years after the festival 242 00:33:33,917 --> 00:33:36,875 when you asked about him: "Where's Amr?" 243 00:33:37,250 --> 00:33:39,750 "Oh, no! He is in the hospital due to exhaustion!" 244 00:33:39,917 --> 00:33:42,167 In this very intense phase 245 00:33:43,042 --> 00:33:46,042 his blood sugar and pressure are spiking. 246 00:33:46,208 --> 00:33:49,250 We want to support him this year to make it all easier, 247 00:33:49,500 --> 00:33:54,583 so that he can smile on the last day without all the sorrows. 248 00:33:55,375 --> 00:33:57,833 Let's go, let's make a great festival! 249 00:33:59,208 --> 00:34:03,500 "AZHAR PARK INSPECTION - 12 days until festival" 250 00:34:03,625 --> 00:34:08,167 The backstage area should be over there in that corner... 251 00:34:09,542 --> 00:34:14,917 No, no, we are not changing the place of the stage! No discussion about that! 252 00:34:16,250 --> 00:34:18,792 So it's made of wood? - Yeah... 253 00:34:19,792 --> 00:34:23,042 Frankly I thought it'd be covered by fabric... 254 00:34:24,667 --> 00:34:27,792 We would like to have all of this... 255 00:35:09,583 --> 00:35:13,250 In my opinion, Amr belongs in the category "enthusiast". 256 00:35:13,250 --> 00:35:15,250 He took on a huge burden 257 00:35:15,250 --> 00:35:19,125 when a few years ago he decided Cairo needed an international jazz festival. 258 00:35:19,667 --> 00:35:25,292 "GÜNTHER HASENKAMP - Goethe institute Cairo" A festival is more than the actual event... 259 00:35:25,292 --> 00:35:29,292 Simply put, festivals are hubs of the cultural landscape 260 00:35:29,500 --> 00:35:34,917 See, it's a place where people come together and things can happen, 261 00:35:34,917 --> 00:35:40,750 where the audience that comes develops and grows beyond generations. 262 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:45,833 And where a platform for culture is created. 263 00:35:46,083 --> 00:35:50,333 It's important to see this sector developing. 264 00:35:50,333 --> 00:35:59,875 A sector which is essential to the forming and consolidating of a civil society here. 265 00:36:00,792 --> 00:36:03,833 The Cairo Jazz Festival has to be seen in this context. 266 00:36:05,083 --> 00:36:09,500 Like other Arab countries, Egypt is an extremely young one. 267 00:36:09,625 --> 00:36:15,292 Approximately 70% of the population is under 30 years old. Which is a tremendous number. 268 00:36:16,667 --> 00:36:20,292 In my opinion, the difference to the past is 269 00:36:20,542 --> 00:36:24,125 that the young generation shows more initiative today, 270 00:36:24,542 --> 00:36:28,792 and is more in the mood to create something independently. 271 00:36:29,125 --> 00:36:31,958 At the same time, you have state-controlled structures 272 00:36:32,375 --> 00:36:38,000 It will be interesting to see if those two sides will find a balance in the future. 273 00:36:59,750 --> 00:37:04,708 "MARCH 3rd, 11 AM - 10 days until festival" 274 00:37:09,667 --> 00:37:18,833 In Egypt unfortunately and sorrowfully things are not finalised and decided on accurately. 275 00:37:19,125 --> 00:37:31,042 Institutions in Egypt are facing a real problem of separation, Institutions are working and people in Egypt are working in islands, separated islands. 276 00:37:31,375 --> 00:37:51,500 It's not a unit. You'll find people that have interest and people who have other interests...and other people who have other interests...And other people who have other interests...and so on...This is leading to nothing in the end. 277 00:37:58,833 --> 00:38:09,125 People are isolated like institutions are really isolated...there is no harmony between anybody and anyone. - Can you call it a lack of solidarity? 278 00:38:09,333 --> 00:38:18,917 No, no, I would not call it lack of solidarity actually, this is a lack of harmony...it's about education actually. 279 00:38:54,917 --> 00:38:59,708 "PRODUCTION MEETING - core festival team" 280 00:39:06,292 --> 00:39:09,750 "KHALED NABIL - financial manager, Cairo Jazz Festival" 281 00:39:09,750 --> 00:39:12,542 I'm 26 years old and a banker. 282 00:39:12,667 --> 00:39:16,208 I do it because Amr loves it. 283 00:39:16,458 --> 00:39:20,750 I want to help create his ideas and visions. 284 00:39:21,292 --> 00:39:25,167 When I see someone showing so much love and passion for something like the Cairo Jazz Festival, 285 00:39:25,458 --> 00:39:28,000 The country benefits from this festival. 286 00:39:28,417 --> 00:39:34,208 It's not Amr, Khaled or Atef who benefit. Not even the crew. 287 00:39:34,417 --> 00:39:36,958 The country does. That something like this takes place in Egypt... 288 00:39:37,583 --> 00:39:39,917 That bands from all over the world are coming to Cairo... 289 00:39:40,125 --> 00:39:43,250 That every year lots of different countries take part in this festival... 290 00:39:43,750 --> 00:39:49,542 ...is a great thing for the country and for the arts. Also for the tourism sector. 291 00:40:12,250 --> 00:40:14,583 Everyone who takes part in this festival, 292 00:40:14,792 --> 00:40:20,083 I'd say 99% of all participants, be it the organizers or the artists, 293 00:40:20,333 --> 00:40:24,417 come because of the spirit and idea rather than of materialistic values. 294 00:40:25,583 --> 00:40:28,125 Every day closer to the festival 295 00:40:30,208 --> 00:40:32,500 of course you feel more tense 296 00:40:32,875 --> 00:40:37,625 and feel time running out, the festival comes closer and closer. 297 00:40:38,417 --> 00:40:42,083 You feel your work of the past 9 or 10 months is revealing itself. 298 00:40:44,458 --> 00:40:46,792 It's a fantastic moment... 299 00:40:47,958 --> 00:40:50,000 when you meet the first arriving band at the airport, 300 00:40:50,875 --> 00:40:54,625 when the first artist shows up and it's clear a festival takes place. 301 00:40:55,125 --> 00:40:59,417 That we have a concert, a real venue with a stage, 302 00:40:59,667 --> 00:41:04,042 the artist is ready to perform and the audience waits for the festival to start. 303 00:41:04,958 --> 00:41:09,000 It's the greatest thing in the world 304 00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:11,875 to see the fruits of your labor. 305 00:41:12,208 --> 00:41:14,542 To see it's a success and not a failure. 306 00:41:15,125 --> 00:41:17,917 This is the best thing to feel in your existence. 307 00:41:54,917 --> 00:42:00,958 There is a discrepancy between official institutions and civil society's activities. 308 00:42:01,458 --> 00:42:03,625 Is it possible to see any changes? 309 00:42:04,250 --> 00:42:10,125 "MOHAMED ELSAWY - founder of Elsawy cultural center" One can only hope but so far there has not been a sign of change. 310 00:42:11,250 --> 00:42:20,875 The bad thing is, people who work on such projects are seen as frauds. 311 00:42:20,875 --> 00:42:25,500 As if they were business men only interested in their own profits, 312 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:28,167 always claiming a financial loss. 313 00:42:28,833 --> 00:42:32,875 It's a real pity to see this mentality here. 314 00:42:33,417 --> 00:42:43,708 Especially the state-controlled programs always have this skeptical view. 315 00:42:43,958 --> 00:42:48,292 - To which extent is the generational conflict an obstacle for the youth? 316 00:42:48,667 --> 00:42:53,083 That the ruling political class is 50-60 years older? 317 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:56,542 That's indeed a very strange thing. 318 00:42:56,833 --> 00:43:05,917 I always say, when a new government is put together, 319 00:43:06,125 --> 00:43:11,792 they open the old books from the museum 320 00:43:12,125 --> 00:43:14,167 to use the old figures again. 321 00:43:15,333 --> 00:43:22,708 It's a very strange thing and it does not make sense. 322 00:43:22,708 --> 00:43:25,667 Some time, I hope soon, it will be realized 323 00:43:26,042 --> 00:43:30,875 it does not work anymore and that it's useless. 324 00:43:30,958 --> 00:43:36,250 For the arts pressure should be seen as a challenge 325 00:43:36,917 --> 00:43:39,458 and not as a negative thing. 326 00:43:40,625 --> 00:43:46,292 The more pressure and problems you have, the more you need the arts. 327 00:44:26,750 --> 00:44:34,750 I'm an artist, I'm a piano player. I'm not...I'm not a festival director. I'm someone who loves jazz and wants to see a jazz festival. 328 00:44:35,458 --> 00:44:38,792 So...that's it...I'm learning. 329 00:44:38,792 --> 00:44:41,083 Egypt is a country of surprises... 330 00:44:42,542 --> 00:44:51,500 Surprises with syndicates, surprises with the taxing...tax people...surprises even from the administration again themselves... 331 00:44:52,167 --> 00:44:56,917 "6 days before the festival the venue backed out of the verbal agreement with Amr..." 332 00:44:56,917 --> 00:45:04,000 It's a...I don't know...really difficult, but it has to happen. It started like... 333 00:45:07,167 --> 00:45:10,083 I'd hate to see it fading away. 334 00:45:12,167 --> 00:45:20,375 - I don't understand, what exactly happened? - Oh, that's really difficult to get it out, you know? 335 00:45:20,583 --> 00:45:29,792 Things should have gone right from the beginning...like to sit, sign a contract - a proper one - and then proceed... 336 00:45:29,958 --> 00:45:45,833 - Just to make it clear: You started all the planning, you started all the invitations of the bands, you started to do the schedule, you started actually everything without having signed a contract with the venue? - Yes, that's right. 337 00:45:46,083 --> 00:45:56,250 We discussed like the...outline of the festival: How many days, what are the dates...what we are going to do...very pleasant, very positive... 338 00:45:56,750 --> 00:46:11,833 Yes, we are in...work you'll do...and that's it. If I've had a doubt that it was really shaky...then I wouldn't have done it. 339 00:46:14,333 --> 00:46:29,292 Some people, they wanted to appear clever before the CEO...they just gave a very distorted image of the festival. 340 00:46:30,333 --> 00:46:43,792 I went yesterday...I had a meeting with the CEO...he started like...he is a very clever person, he had like 20 years working in hotel business...He is a market man...I'm not a market man...I'm not a merchant. 341 00:46:45,167 --> 00:47:10,667 I'm not clever in that, so he was like 'Yes, we are angry...because ta-ta-ta-ta-ta...and then in the end...we had to sign...I had to sign a check for...a check for 50.000 Pounds...plus insurance for the grounds. 342 00:47:11,125 --> 00:47:18,208 We put an extra responsibility over us now. 343 00:47:21,250 --> 00:47:28,792 - In addition to the responsibility you already have regarding the whole planning and festival 344 00:47:29,750 --> 00:47:34,500 Yes... - So actually you are guaranteeing now with your private money too, right? 345 00:47:40,208 --> 00:47:47,083 Yeah, we are not gonna learn and educate ourselves without situations like that. 346 00:47:47,792 --> 00:47:55,333 You need really to pass in this shit and...and then you can learn something...maybe once. 347 00:48:25,750 --> 00:48:27,958 That's what makes people happy. 348 00:48:55,583 --> 00:49:00,333 We cannot ask everybody to hear...to listen to jazz...or to love jazz. 349 00:50:03,250 --> 00:50:07,833 "ABBASSIYA, CAIRO - ministry of tourism" 350 00:50:09,167 --> 00:50:16,792 "MAGDI SELIM - head of domestic department" The work of the Egyptian tourism authority and the Ministry of Tourism itself includes in its strategic planning 351 00:50:17,333 --> 00:50:20,375 to support such festivals 352 00:50:20,958 --> 00:50:24,542 and the purpose of this support 353 00:50:25,000 --> 00:50:27,875 is to show a clear picture 354 00:50:28,167 --> 00:50:32,042 of the Egyptian social situation 355 00:50:32,375 --> 00:50:36,042 and that organizing such a festival 356 00:50:36,458 --> 00:50:41,792 in public and in this case in the Azhar Park, 357 00:50:42,375 --> 00:50:46,917 this means these areas are safe 358 00:50:47,250 --> 00:50:51,125 and many festivals take place there 359 00:50:51,375 --> 00:50:53,917 in which different countries participate, 360 00:50:54,167 --> 00:50:57,917 which shows an image to the whole world 361 00:50:58,292 --> 00:51:02,625 that Egypt has stability and is safe, 362 00:51:02,625 --> 00:51:07,167 and that even though some incidents occur in Egypt, which we admit... 363 00:51:07,167 --> 00:51:10,000 but such incidents occur also everywhere in the world. 364 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:17,500 The interaction between artists coming from Europe and other Arab countries 365 00:51:17,750 --> 00:51:19,708 with Egyptian artists... 366 00:51:21,250 --> 00:51:25,750 offers a good opportunity for... 367 00:51:27,875 --> 00:51:32,417 cultural exchange between all these countries 368 00:51:32,625 --> 00:51:37,042 which eventually leads to more touristic activity 369 00:51:37,208 --> 00:51:39,375 from other countries to Egypt. 370 00:51:39,417 --> 00:51:43,500 Amr Salah, so far I see, is working on a non-profit level. 371 00:51:43,708 --> 00:51:50,750 I know you are supporting him with around 5000 Euros. 372 00:51:50,833 --> 00:51:56,875 For me, frankly, 5000 is not a lot. 373 00:51:59,125 --> 00:52:04,375 I understand Amr still has to pay all the taxes 374 00:52:07,667 --> 00:52:12,375 Just for the Syndicate of Music he has to pay more than 3000 Euros. 375 00:52:12,625 --> 00:52:17,333 I think there is a certain discrepancy... a gap... 376 00:52:17,542 --> 00:52:24,875 So the official institutions could offer much more support. 377 00:52:26,125 --> 00:52:29,333 What you say is correct. 378 00:52:31,458 --> 00:52:33,042 ... and ... 379 00:52:33,042 --> 00:52:35,917 ... and I think that we can ... 380 00:52:36,042 --> 00:52:37,667 ... tomorrow ... 381 00:52:38,542 --> 00:52:41,792 possibly invite Mr. Amr Salah again 382 00:52:42,250 --> 00:52:43,833 and have another talk 383 00:52:44,083 --> 00:52:47,500 and see if there are any other demands 384 00:52:47,708 --> 00:52:51,625 which can be satisfied by the tourism authority and the ministry of tourism. 385 00:52:52,042 --> 00:52:54,292 We don't have a problem with that. 386 00:52:55,667 --> 00:53:03,000 Because, as I already said, this is a very important issue. 387 00:53:03,792 --> 00:53:07,125 Therefore I will ask... 388 00:53:07,333 --> 00:53:08,958 ... tomorrow ... 389 00:53:09,458 --> 00:53:15,042 to set an appointment here in the ministry 390 00:53:15,167 --> 00:53:18,750 to see what can be done for the festival. 391 00:53:21,833 --> 00:53:25,667 "Unfortunately, the meeting could not take place 'tomorrow' ... or any day after" 392 00:53:33,042 --> 00:53:39,625 "STUDIO VIBE, JAM SESSION #2 - 3 days until festival" 393 00:53:49,667 --> 00:53:56,458 "AHMED SAKRAN - co-founder of Studio Vibe" When it's about alternative music we always try to let people know. The idea is not only to be a rehearsal studio... 394 00:53:56,583 --> 00:54:02,625 We started to also be a recording studio since we had all the equipment necessary. 395 00:54:03,333 --> 00:54:05,708 We also started with some bands 396 00:54:06,208 --> 00:54:10,875 to support them and offer special discounts and packages. 397 00:54:11,083 --> 00:54:15,292 And we try to organize workshops so that people can learn what music is all about. 398 00:54:15,292 --> 00:54:18,208 For example a guitar player who does not know a lot about his instrument. 399 00:54:18,542 --> 00:54:24,583 So we had some workshops with the Cairo Jazz Festival which brought in foreign artists. 400 00:54:25,542 --> 00:54:29,833 So we had workshops with really great people. Everyone was really happy about it. 401 00:54:30,708 --> 00:54:35,833 "JAZZ-HIPHOP WORKSHOP - 1 day until festival" 402 00:54:40,708 --> 00:54:49,417 "SOWETO KINCH - British jazz and rap artist" Amro has been quite keen to get me over for a couple of years I gather now and I've always known that there is a very healthy hip-hop scene here. 403 00:54:49,417 --> 00:54:59,333 Less aware about the jazz but I know from many MCs in Jordan actually, in Palestine, that there is a very strong scene here in Egypt. And some Moroccan friends have told me the same too. 404 00:54:59,542 --> 00:55:04,417 So I've just been very excited and certainly working with Arab Knightz is what I think a...good fit. 405 00:55:04,417 --> 00:55:15,167 So this place is full of energy and full of vibe, man! Not just gold chains and fast cars and, you know, big booty...it's actually content. So that's why I'm identifying with here. 406 00:55:16,292 --> 00:55:22,583 "ARABIAN KNIGHTZ - Egyptian hip-hop artists" 407 00:55:39,917 --> 00:55:50,917 All you need to do is taking a couple of looks at the YouTube presence to know the mentality...the kinda direction they are bringing hip-hop with and it's also really encouraging to hear they are leading workshops. 408 00:55:50,917 --> 00:56:03,667 The quality of human contact I had and the quality of music completely surprised me. And if you believed everything you see on the news, you'd think, you know...everyone in the Arab world is chasing RPGs and throwing rocks at the wall...like...Nah! 409 00:56:23,292 --> 00:56:27,917 Cairo's population is about 20-25 million people, 410 00:56:28,083 --> 00:56:33,625 but opportunities and venues for young musicians are very rare. I'm not sure why. 411 00:56:34,250 --> 00:56:38,083 I don't know either. The fact is, there's nothing. 412 00:56:38,083 --> 00:56:41,792 The government only focuses on things that do not jeopardize their plans. 413 00:56:42,083 --> 00:56:46,292 They want to tranquilize people, to keep them quiet. 414 00:56:46,542 --> 00:56:49,125 They want to stabilize the country. That's the only thing they are thinking about. 415 00:56:49,458 --> 00:56:52,500 Obviously the last thing they consider is music. 416 00:56:53,750 --> 00:56:57,292 This is true for many things, not just music but arts in general. 417 00:56:57,625 --> 00:57:01,917 Every politician who takes over only thinks about his own position. 418 00:57:02,042 --> 00:57:07,333 The only important thing is public appearance at the international film festival or the opera. 419 00:57:07,583 --> 00:57:09,208 They do not care about the youth. 420 00:57:09,208 --> 00:57:13,958 We would love to see the government providing opportunities and spaces for young people to learn. 421 00:57:14,417 --> 00:57:18,500 So that they can do what they love to do and learn. 422 00:57:19,250 --> 00:57:23,625 Because there's no sense to learn an instrument without being able to perform publicly. 423 00:57:24,000 --> 00:57:26,583 We would love to have more of such places! 424 00:57:58,333 --> 00:58:03,750 "FINAL STAFF MEETING, 10 PM - 20 hours until festival" 425 00:58:09,875 --> 00:58:11,875 I'm really sorry... - No worries! 426 00:58:11,875 --> 00:58:15,583 I was held up at Azhar Park. - We were also stuck in traffic. 427 00:58:15,583 --> 00:58:16,833 Is Amir coming or not? 428 00:58:17,458 --> 00:58:17,875 - He's coming. 429 00:58:18,875 --> 00:58:20,667 So, he's coming? Okay! 430 00:58:20,917 --> 00:58:22,292 Did you finish the booklet? 431 00:58:23,125 --> 00:58:28,625 It's not called "Shazz" festival but "Jazz" festival. 432 00:58:29,333 --> 00:58:31,333 Funny how people come up with something like that. 433 00:58:32,042 --> 00:58:34,458 When someone is late, everything still has to start as planned. 434 00:58:34,958 --> 00:58:37,542 The priority is that everything continues as planned. 435 00:58:39,208 --> 00:58:43,208 The number one priority is that everything starts as planned whatever happens. 436 00:58:43,583 --> 00:58:45,917 Did you talk to Said about the problem? 437 00:58:45,917 --> 00:58:47,125 - No, he has no clue. 438 00:58:47,667 --> 00:58:48,750 So there is nobody to fix this? 439 00:58:49,500 --> 00:58:51,625 No, he doesn't know at all. 440 00:59:00,708 --> 00:59:05,458 "March 12th - 16 hours until festival" 441 00:59:59,375 --> 01:00:04,792 "CARSTEN DAERR & CARLOS BICA - from Berlin, Germany" 442 01:00:09,750 --> 01:00:13,792 I feel happy...It's happening! 443 01:00:15,625 --> 01:00:18,583 - It's all good! - God loves jazz! 444 01:00:27,125 --> 01:00:35,958 "CARLOS BICA - Portuguese bas splayer and composer" Building such a festival in Cairo is impressive and has to be praised. 445 01:00:35,958 --> 01:00:40,208 Cairo is special because it's so extreme. 446 01:00:40,208 --> 01:00:44,083 "CARSTEN DAERR - German pianist and composer" It's a very mixed crowd, a very diverse audience. 447 01:00:44,083 --> 01:00:47,708 "JANIS GÖRLICH - German percussionist" I felt a very strong and youthful energy here. 448 01:00:47,708 --> 01:00:53,208 In Germany the Jazz audience became rather old and the young ones don't really find a way in. 449 01:00:53,417 --> 01:00:58,000 I have the feeling, especially in Cairo, it's open for all. 450 01:01:11,250 --> 01:01:17,333 "KAZ OKOMURA TRIO - from Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan" 451 01:02:23,250 --> 01:02:29,625 "NABIL KHEMIR - from Tunis, Tunisia" 452 01:02:29,833 --> 01:02:32,417 In the Arab world Jazz festivals are rare. 453 01:02:32,625 --> 01:02:37,542 You can say Jazz is sophisticated music, 454 01:02:37,917 --> 01:02:44,708 a language which brings everything together, a universal language of some kind. 455 01:02:44,917 --> 01:02:46,958 Jazz combines all languages. 456 01:03:05,208 --> 01:03:09,208 I call this instrument "RayJam" 457 01:03:09,792 --> 01:03:15,083 It's a combination of the oud and electric guitar, as you can see. 458 01:03:15,417 --> 01:03:17,083 I designed it myself. 459 01:03:17,417 --> 01:03:23,125 The oud is on top because that's how you play it. 460 01:03:23,583 --> 01:03:29,833 And the electric guitar is below. And those positions are essential. 461 01:03:45,375 --> 01:03:50,125 On top there is the soul of the Orient. And below the soul of the Occident. 462 01:03:50,500 --> 01:03:54,125 This creation happened by accident you could say. 463 01:03:54,583 --> 01:03:58,167 I started playing the oud at a very young age, but stopped at 15 464 01:03:58,417 --> 01:04:00,625 to devote myself completely to electric guitar and Jazz. 465 01:04:00,875 --> 01:04:04,333 10 years later I got back to the oud and I noticed I did not forget how to play it. 466 01:04:04,333 --> 01:04:05,625 And that's how it started... 467 01:04:35,500 --> 01:04:41,417 "FESTIVAL STAFF MEETING - after first day" 468 01:04:41,417 --> 01:04:44,167 As you wish... - No, no! This is really unacceptable! 469 01:04:44,167 --> 01:04:47,833 After all the intense work we've done... 470 01:04:48,208 --> 01:04:53,542 I'm very sorry, if other people are not on time, I have to focus on it myself. 471 01:04:53,542 --> 01:04:55,542 It's unacceptable hearing this from you, 472 01:04:55,792 --> 01:04:58,917 especially when you have no idea about lots of technical aspects. 473 01:04:59,083 --> 01:05:02,250 When you say there is no production manager, that means I do not work at all. 474 01:05:02,875 --> 01:05:07,583 - I did not get this impression of you... I did not see it. 475 01:05:07,750 --> 01:05:11,292 If I don't come tomorrow and you see what is missing, then you will understand. 476 01:05:17,750 --> 01:05:23,958 Is there nobody who can fill in? Who can take over? 477 01:05:29,958 --> 01:05:31,042 Do you have anything to say? 478 01:05:31,750 --> 01:05:32,792 No, no - go on. 479 01:06:04,833 --> 01:06:10,458 The show must go on and the next day the production manager returns to finish the job... 480 01:06:10,958 --> 01:06:17,167 "NANCY ISKANDER - production manager and light designer" He's a visionary...and he's an artist...and this combination is lethal. 481 01:06:17,375 --> 01:06:31,375 The problem is that...because you have the whole thing in your heart...you feel that no one else will have the same passion like you. And therefor you have to follow-up on everything, do everything with your own hands and this is very draining. Very, extremely draining. 482 01:06:42,417 --> 01:06:54,375 I can have the same passion but I'm not showing it as much as him or the same way as him and so he thinks that I'm not working. Or he thinks someone doesn't have the same passion. So he feels like he has to do the job all over again. 483 01:06:54,625 --> 01:07:01,458 Focus on the big picture and let someone deal with the details or focus on the details and let someone put the puzzle together. 484 01:07:05,917 --> 01:07:16,917 You are asking me to do something, you are angry I did not do it...but had I done this thing I would have jeopardised your whole concert of the night in the main theatre 485 01:07:21,583 --> 01:07:28,750 Conflicts do happen and sometimes when they come in the wrong time and when you are so tired and they come to you, you just feel like: I just wanna give up! 486 01:07:58,208 --> 01:08:02,250 It's definitely an experience and I'm kind of nervous. 487 01:08:16,875 --> 01:08:31,708 That's...that's jazz, you know? Improvising, just like being spontaneous like giving me spontaneous surprises...thank you so much for being together with Amro Salah, director of Cairo Jazz Festival. Wake up! 488 01:08:32,667 --> 01:08:38,292 Wake up, you have some... - I'm not sleeping, I'm just cold. - No, I'm just like waking you! 489 01:08:38,292 --> 01:08:43,625 "JUNIOR WORKSHOP - Genena theatre, Cairo Jazz Festival" One, two, three, four...From the top! Do you know the melody? 490 01:08:44,875 --> 01:08:45,625 Good! 491 01:08:46,250 --> 01:08:54,125 For me, I think, the art and music scene is very much connected to the whole situation in the country. 492 01:08:54,125 --> 01:09:01,042 "FATHY SALAMA - pianist and Grammy award winner" The young people are not given enough chance...to be in front. 493 01:09:01,042 --> 01:09:10,208 In any situation actually, in any . So to find a place to play is not so easy...not so many places. 494 01:09:10,208 --> 01:09:21,417 The knowledge of music is...I'm talking about ignorance somehow...is because of the whole situation because these kids never got education in the first 495 01:09:21,417 --> 01:09:33,375 People do not imagine that they do need to work...to be good. This is a job of the ministry of culture. Ministry of culture does absolutely nothing. 496 01:09:33,833 --> 01:09:49,458 And the result, that's what you see, not only in the music scene but everywhere: Older people somehow are trying always to put down young people. That's why I'm here...to have more workshops. 497 01:09:53,208 --> 01:10:01,458 "OUM AND BAND - from Marrakesh, Morocco" 498 01:10:28,708 --> 01:10:31,333 Why is this festival important for Egypt? 499 01:10:31,583 --> 01:10:37,292 "OUM - from Marrakesh, Morocco" The importance for Egypt is obvious, especially in this phase the country is going through. 500 01:10:37,292 --> 01:10:41,000 It's a proof of vitality and life itself. 501 01:10:41,417 --> 01:10:47,625 It's a proof of the lust for life, to continue life. 502 01:10:48,292 --> 01:10:57,667 It's proof of the Egyptian youth being alive. It's excellent proof of cultural life. 503 01:10:58,167 --> 01:11:01,625 In my opinion, music helps in every way. 504 01:11:02,333 --> 01:11:05,375 I think one should not think too much about music 505 01:11:05,583 --> 01:11:10,375 because making music is already a political statement. 506 01:11:10,917 --> 01:11:18,167 Let's not make it too complicated. Don't think too much about your role as an artist, 507 01:11:18,167 --> 01:11:21,833 or what you have to say, because I'm not sitting in a parliament. 508 01:11:22,375 --> 01:11:26,125 I make music and music already tells a message 509 01:11:26,375 --> 01:11:29,333 and transports pleasure and well-being. 510 01:11:30,292 --> 01:11:34,500 When people come to listen to a concert 511 01:11:34,708 --> 01:11:38,292 and enjoy themselves, dance, sweat... and there are also emotions 512 01:11:38,583 --> 01:11:40,542 and furthermore there is a message. 513 01:12:01,042 --> 01:12:06,875 The big problem: There is no real support for artists in Egypt. Is it similar in Morocco? 514 01:12:07,667 --> 01:12:08,250 It's the same. 515 01:12:09,042 --> 01:12:15,542 Every artist has to take care of himself. 516 01:12:16,292 --> 01:12:23,708 Everyone is doing everything on their own. There are no big production opportunities. 517 01:12:24,667 --> 01:12:32,792 There is a nearly non-existent market for music. 518 01:12:33,333 --> 01:12:37,167 Everyone is fighting on their own to make something happen. 519 01:12:38,083 --> 01:12:44,833 That's why we are happy to meet you here. It's no coincidence to meet you here in Cairo. 520 01:12:44,833 --> 01:12:47,667 You are from Berlin 521 01:12:47,875 --> 01:12:51,208 and make a movie about Amr Salah and us and what's happening here. 522 01:12:51,208 --> 01:12:58,208 Ultimately, it's the best thing to know that there are fellow artists who want to 523 01:12:58,208 --> 01:13:01,417 make some noise to talk about all of us. 524 01:13:02,000 --> 01:13:03,292 That's encouraging. 525 01:13:43,417 --> 01:13:47,583 I think if there were no obstacles for the youth, 526 01:13:47,958 --> 01:13:49,625 no contradictions 527 01:13:49,625 --> 01:13:52,917 there would be no lust for life and vitality. 528 01:13:53,458 --> 01:13:56,792 I think when there is a small conflict or when there are problems 529 01:13:57,083 --> 01:14:00,542 you feel alive and strong enough to say: "No, I don't agree!" 530 01:14:00,583 --> 01:14:05,000 And when you are able to say, "No, I don't agree!" then you are also able to say, "No, I'm not fine!" 531 01:14:05,417 --> 01:14:08,625 And when you can say you are not fine, it expresses a lot of emotion. 532 01:14:08,833 --> 01:14:13,375 Somehow everything happening to the Arab youth at the moment can be seen in a positive way. 533 01:14:13,375 --> 01:14:18,458 I see it in a more positive way. This is the time we have to live through, 534 01:14:18,792 --> 01:14:21,542 to live it in a better way. And to observe it more closely. 535 01:14:21,542 --> 01:14:25,625 Just like you do it or we do it with music. 536 01:14:26,458 --> 01:14:29,458 I prefer to see it as an opportunity. Of course it's very difficult... 537 01:14:29,625 --> 01:14:32,917 of course it's complicated, but it's always complicated and difficult anyway. 538 01:14:33,083 --> 01:14:36,333 Even without all this. So, it's a good thing after all. 539 01:14:49,125 --> 01:14:56,042 "SOWETO KINCH AND BAND - from Birmingham, UK" 540 01:15:56,833 --> 01:16:05,208 "ARABIAN KNIGHTZ - from Cairo, Egypt" 541 01:16:19,208 --> 01:16:27,083 We were very happy this time that we were getting to do something like that with jazz music and other genres here in Egypt. We need something like that more often in Egypt. 542 01:16:27,375 --> 01:16:41,083 In Arabic we of course try to target our people more...see what they are being tricked into when it comes to politics and the social changes and we try as much as possible to talk about what's real and what's going on here and to present that. 543 01:16:41,292 --> 01:16:48,125 And when it comes to the English rap we try as much as possible to represent our culture background to the people abroad... 544 01:16:48,625 --> 01:16:54,958 - To clear misconceptions that they have about us and our culture, religion and all of that. - We try to correct that, yeah! - But they don't understand. 545 01:17:31,417 --> 01:17:38,083 And I really like what I'm seeing and hopefully that can just go on in the next generation, because the old generation ruined it, sorry guys! 546 01:17:38,083 --> 01:17:52,750 -Yeah, the old generation needs to roll over and move on. Leave politics alone...you ruined it enough times, man...Let us do our thing with music and with media and with politics. For god's sake, give us a chance, move on! -Exactly. 547 01:18:25,083 --> 01:18:28,333 -What was your personal highlight? -Uhm, the team! 548 01:18:28,542 --> 01:18:31,042 JAZZ! 549 01:18:46,750 --> 01:18:47,750 What's mum saying? 550 01:18:48,958 --> 01:18:50,167 Mum is very happy! 551 01:18:51,875 --> 01:19:06,208 I feel safe, I feel safe between my parents. And I feel grateful that I have a wonderful family like that. 552 01:19:18,500 --> 01:19:23,917 The hope lays with the public, it lays with the interaction of society with this event 553 01:19:25,292 --> 01:19:26,833 This is the ultimate hope. 554 01:19:27,417 --> 01:19:30,500 This is what we are actually trying to do. 555 01:19:30,500 --> 01:19:35,625 We are trying to get closer to the people, to invite them to participate in this event.