Egyptian actor and singer Mohamed Ramadan has voiced his support for efforts to address climate change, emphasizing that raising awareness about this critical issue through cinema demands creativity and subtlety.
He argued that rather than directly lecturing audiences, films should highlight the consequences of harmful environmental behaviors and practices.
Speaking at a dialogue session titled "Cinema and Climate Change," held at the Radio Cinema headquarters in Cairo, Ramadan remarked, "Cinema and the environment are two sides of the same coin."
He elaborated that the film industry itself is deeply impacted by climate change and environmental factors, from the logistics of filming to the audience’s need to travel to cinemas. This, he noted, contrasts with the accessibility of television, which reaches viewers at home.
Ramadan highlighted the unique potential of documentaries and independent films to address climate change more effectively than commercial cinema, which often prioritizes box office success.
"Directly instructing viewers on what to do and what not to do is not effective," he said. "Instead, we should use cinema to depict the repercussions of issues like water scarcity or deforestation—similar to how international films portray the Earth’s future 50 or 100 years from now."
The session also featured producer and filmmaker Marianne Khoury and was part of the third round of the Climate Connect dialogue series. This initiative, launched in June in Cairo, is organized by Diwan Bookstore, Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, and WhaleZ Consulting. Its goal is to raise environmental awareness and explore innovative solutions to combat climate change.
Khoury shed light on a growing trend among global filmmakers to adopt eco-friendly practices during production. These include minimizing waste, reducing transportation needs, and protecting natural filming locations.
She also highlighted the increasing recognition of environmental storytelling, with many international film festivals now offering awards for films that address climate change. "This trend motivates filmmakers to engage with one of the most pressing issues of our time," she said.
