Khaberni - The Egyptian director, Mazen Al-Mutajawil, responsible for directing the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum, has broken his silence to respond for the first time to the criticisms of the ceremony, emphasizing that "any massive artistic work is bound to provoke a divergence of opinions," and highlighting the importance of focusing on the successes and accomplishments achieved by the event.
In a phone call with the program "Al-Soura" hosted by the media figure Lamis El Hadidi on Al-Nahar TV Sunday evening, Al-Mutajawil explained that it is natural for some observations to arise in an event of this magnitude, whether technical or organizational.
He added, "I always prefer to look at the bright side of things, and I respect everyone's point of view, as every project has aspects that can be improved."
He affirmed that many elements of the ceremony were outstanding and successful in conveying the general idea, noting that the meticulous details from decorations to music and artistic performances, were not random, but were designed to reflect specific philosophies and messages clearly evident when re-watching the event.
Al-Mutajawil continued, explicating that overseeing an event of this magnitude requires a massive collective effort, commending the role of Mohamed El-Saadi, a board member of the United Media Services Company, who took complete oversight of the ceremony and acted as the "maestro" coordinating all details.
He also added that the ceremony was not merely a media event, but an artistic and cultural message aimed at promoting Egyptian artifacts and history globally, indicating that the effort exerted was significant and deserving of appreciation.
Who is Mazen Al-Mutajawil?
Mazen Al-Mutajawil is a director, cinematographer, and Egyptian lighting designer, regarded as one of the leading names in the visual and directorial field in recent years. He started his career early as the youngest cinematographer in Egypt at the age of 23, when he worked on his first feature film "The Seventh Sense," having graduated from the Higher Cinema Institute in 2004.
Al-Mutajawil has participated in shooting a number of the most successful and famous Egyptian films, including "Nema Bay," "El Watar," "Captain Hima," "Super Granny," and the three parts of "Sons of Rizk," for which he won the award for Best Cinematography in recognition of his creativity, in addition to the film "The Cell," which is considered one of the most prominent action films in the history of Egyptian cinema.
He has also collaborated with global agencies and major brands in the advertising industry, and has shot works in several countries, including Spain, Italy, the United States, Brazil, Japan, England, and Russia.
In 2021, Al-Mutajawil excelled in directing and designing the lighting for the Pharaohs' Golden Parade, which dazzled the world and received widespread acclaim, thereby cementing his status as one of the most important Egyptian directors in the field of visual spectacle and artistic direction.
