New camera gear for Ahmed

We have started this GoFundMe to help purchase camera gear for Ahmed Hassan, a filmmaker from Egypt who focuses on using his camera to fight for social justice.

Ahmed was part of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and used his camera to capture the human stories behind the protests and his work was an integral part of the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Square.” Ahmed shared his journey with us during the filming of the new documentary “Subject.” The difficult political climate in Egypt led him to make the tough decision to leave his home country for Istanbul. Life in Istanbul presented its own challenges, and Ahmed was forced to sell his camera and gear just to survive.

After finishing filming for “Subject” Ahmed received an opportunity to start anew in New York City, where he currently resides. He maintains a passion for filmmaking and we are asking for support to help him buy a new camera and gear, which are vital to his livelihood as a filmmaker.

A message from Ahmed

I always loved telling stories through the lens of a camera. Filmmaking is a way to express my ideas, creativity and tell stories that inspire and educate the people. It's a way to bring attention to important social and political issues and capture historical events. It’s the power to transport audiences to different places and times, allowing them to experience new perspectives and emotions.

Getting a new camera/gear would enable me to continue pursuing my passion for cinematography and storytelling. With a new camera and gear, I would be able to start working again and regain my financial stability. It would allow me to take on new projects, explore new techniques, and collaborate with other professionals in the industry. It would give me a new lease on life and help me rebuild my career and my future.

It will allow me to work on productions, and film my own projects. With my new start in NYC, I had the chance to meet a group of young tech enthusiasts who are creating a project about human augmentation and artificial intelligence that would revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. I know I have to capture their journey.

It’s still in early stages, but I want to start filming their experiences, from brainstorming sessions to late-night coding marathons. I want to capture their passion and hard work. Each one has their unique perspective and skillset, but together they are creating something incredible. I wanna capture the team's excitement and nervousness before the apps start to take shape. They know they are onto something big, but they also know the road ahead wouldn't be easy. And I want to be there to film the day when the app is ready to launch. It’s a story of innovation, teamwork, and determination. And I will be grateful to be a part of it, capturing it all through my lens.

Much has changed since being part of the protests in Tahrir Square. Despite the difficulties, I still believe that the power of film is too important to ignore, and am determined to continue my work no matter what.

About Ahmed

Ahmed Hassan had always been passionate about telling stories. As a young man, he dreamed of becoming a filmmaker, but he knew that in Egypt, opportunities for creative expression were limited. That all changed when the Egyptian Revolution began in 2011. Ahmed was one of the thousands of people who gathered in Tahrir Square to demand freedom, democracy, and human rights. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, Ahmed became increasingly involved in the protests, documenting the events with his camera.

As he witnessed history unfolding before his eyes, Ahmed realized that he had an opportunity to tell a different kind of story - one that went beyond the mainstream media's narrative of the protests. With the help of some fellow filmmakers, he learned the basics of cinematography, teaching himself how to capture powerful images and compelling footage that would bring the reality of the revolution to a wider audience.

He refined his skills and collaborated with other filmmakers to tell the human stories behind the protests, most notably for the Oscar-nominated feature “The Square.” His work quickly gained recognition within the filmmakers community, and he began receiving invitations to screen his films at festivals and events around the world.

The reception at home was not as welcoming since his work was critical of the Egyptian government. Years later, Ahmed would look back on those turbulent days with a mixture of pride and sadness, remembering the friends and comrades who had lost their lives in the struggle. But he knew that their legacy would live on in the stories he had told, and in the countless others that would be told in the years to come.

After years of activism and filmmaking in Egypt, Ahmed Hassan made the difficult decision to leave his home country and seek a new opportunity in Istanbul. However, he soon discovered that the challenges he faced in Egypt were not unique to his homeland. The political climate in Turkey and the outbreak of Covid-19 made it difficult for Ahmed to make ends meet, and he was forced to sell his equipment, including his beloved camera, in order to survive.

Ahmed received an opportunity to come to the U.S. and decided to come to New York City to start a new life and restart his career. His passion for filmmaking remains steadfast, and we are asking for funds to help him get the equipment he needs to allow him to continue telling these important stories.

With your support, we hope to help Ahmed purchase new camera equipment and lenses, and return to the world of filmmaking. Your contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in helping him pursue his passion and continue telling the stories that matter. Thank you for your generosity and support.