Meet Karim ElDin ElAlfy | Writer & Film Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karim ElDin ElAlfy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karim ElDin, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I mean, I feel that risk is a constant presence in every decision we make in our lives, whether that decision is to pursue our dreams or not. Action and inaction both hold risk. So, ultimately, the question becomes what life one wants to lead and dealing with the risks to achieve that outcome. For example, I had always wanted to be a filmmaker, but coming from a family working corporate jobs, it felt like it wasn’t a realistic option. So, for a long time, I conformed to those around me, majored in finance and economics, and spent my summers studying at schools like LSE, UC Berkley, and Cambridge. After graduation, I worked in banking and private equity for about two years, and all this was because I felt that becoming a full-time filmmaker was too risky compared to the stability of a corporate career. However, I realized that this inaction or unwillingness to commit to my passion would risk me living an unfulfilled life. So, at 23, I left corporate and began to make films full-time. That decision led me to go on many adventures, do something I love and travel across the world to study at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. While it has been, at many times, a bumpy road, it’s a road I love.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Well, I feel a lot of the subject matter I like to explore in my films are related to either subjects that interest me (mostly history and politics) or questions I feel myself wrestling with be they personal or of a more societal nature. For me, filmmaking is a medium for exploring these questions and bettering our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. In a way, filmmaking, especially in the ideation phase, can become a therapy where you deal with what can be an overwhelming world, both intellectually and emotionally.

Recently, the state of world events has shined a harsh light on our ability to “other” entire peoples and how this system of demonization and fear-mongering is utilized to strip millions of their humanity and rights and even to justify their mass slaughter to maintain systems of oppression. Witnessing these events unfold in real-time inspired my latest film, which hopes to explore this dehumanizing power dynamic and how it often leads to disastrous outcomes for both the victim and the perpetrator. The film is called Empty Lands, though we’re still not set on the title. However, we should be as we’re about to picture lock. The film is a dystopian political thriller that follows a couple living under a dystopian regime who are given a state-subsidized house in a territory deemed the “Empty Lands”. The film takes a sharp turn when the couple comes in contact with the native inhabitants of those lands.

The film is set to be released in the summer. It’s the biggest project I’ve undertaken since coming to Los Angeles. Though it has been a long journey, I was very fortunate to have an amazing team and great producers by my side. I look forward to releasing it to the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take them to the Alamo Drafthouse, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and buy them some Shawerma at Anwar’s Kitchen.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family. Anything of merit in me is due to the sacrifices they made raising me up and their constant support throughout my life.

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14422915/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karimelalfy_/

Image Credits
Margaret Seid (took all photos)