Laila Iskander
An Egyptian filmmaker and social entrepreneur who uses documentary film to address migration, gender, and urban issues in the Middle East
Laila Iskander (born 1970) is an Egyptian-American documentary filmmaker and social entrepreneur whose work bridges artistic expression with social justice advocacy. Her films explore complex issues like diaspora experiences, gender identity, and urban development in the Arab world. Her 2008 film Garbage Dreams brought international attention to the Zabaleen community in Cairo, who recycle 80% of the city's waste through innovative informal systems. The film spurred grassroots initiatives to support their work and influenced Egyptian environmental policies.
Iskander's 2019 film Waste Land, Sacred Ground continued this focus by examining the intersection of ecology and spirituality in marginalized communities. She also co-founded the Arab Documentary Film Center, which provides training and resources to filmmakers across the Middle East. Her work has been featured at Sundance Film Festival and broadcast on PBS and Al Jazeera.
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Her approach demonstrates how art can drive social change in regions facing rapid modernization challenges.