Co-presented by SF Urban Film Fest 

An Egyptian living and working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reflects on his new surroundings through a series of images and observations. The resulting montage is a poignant cinematic postcard that explores the contradictory nature of the immigrant experience: at once lonely, frightening, and exhilarating.

The Sailor is truly an international production and an example of how to safely create a film during a pandemic. The writing and filming took place in Pittsburgh, the music composed and performed in Chicago, and both the translation and voice-over acting done in Cairo, Egypt.

About the filmmakers:

Lily Ekimian & Ahmed T. Ragheb are independent filmmakers based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ekimian – part American, part Russian – is originally from Washington, D.C., and Ragheb – Egyptian, Dutch, and American – is originally from Cairo, Egypt; they met while both attending school in Cairo. Together they co-founded and run The Pittsburgher, an online arts and culture magazine, and a film production platform, Dog Door Films. Ekimian & Ragheb have recently completed their feature debut, Portrait, an experimental documentary. They have produced and directed ] music videos for Daniel Knox and The Handsome Family, as well as a series of short films. Their work deals heavily with the concepts of identity and place, with a special emphasis on feminism, cultural dislocation, and domestic relationships.

Co-presented by