Introduction to ‘The Maggie’

Mamoun returned to the British Film Institute, to introduce a screening of Alexander Mackendrick‘s ‘The Maggie‘ at the National Film Theatre on 9th November 2012 as part of the Ealing Studios season.

The event wasn’t filmed, but we have created this short video to accompany the audio recording made on the day.

Alexander Mackendrick was a Scottish American director and teacher, born in Boston, Massachusetts, moving to Scotland as a young child. His major works were made while at Ealing Studios. He became Dean of the film school at the California Institute of the Arts in 1969, giving up the position in 1978 to become a professor at the school. Source: Wikipedia.

This event was part of the programme arranged by David Somerset of the education department of the BFI to enhance the Ealing season.

Copyright©Mamoun Hassan 2013

The Man in the White Suit at the National Film Theatre

Mamoun was at the British Film Institute on Saturday 24 November leading a Masterclass on the post-war classic, The Man in the White Suit.

The four-hour class attracted fans of Alexander MacKendrick – one of Ealing’s greatest directors, whose best work was made possible by the producer Sir Michael Balcon.

A number of contemporary film-makers also took part and contributed ideas on the subversive themes of the movie and the director’s techniques.

The class was arranged as an educational offering alongside the BFI’s current ‘Dark Ealing’ season and coincides with the Alexander MacKendrick centenary:  See  What’s on at BFI

The public screening at the National Film Theatre, Southbank, London is at 6pm tonight – hurry up and book online if you haven’t seen it – you are in for a treat.

(Unfortunately Mamoun is not available to introduce the film as is he is in Egypt as a member of the International Jury for the 35th Cairo International Film Festival 2012 Human Rights Films Competition.)