Waguih El Laqany

2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Deaf Animation Workshop (Continued)Egypt

Waguih El Laqany is a cultural manager, film programmer, curator, producer and actor. He is also the founder, senior partner and executive director of Art ِEverywhere (L.L.C). Waguih founded and managed several film-related initiatives and projects, including "Cinema Everywhere" in 2013, which promoted alternative cinema and built an audience for it in marginalized and disadvantaged areas by organizing film screenings and alternative cinema programs. Waguih's projects also include "C Film Translation Center," which provides film translations to Arabic, sign language and other languages and "Deaf Film Lab," which encouraged and trained deaf people to create films through workshops. During the COVID 19 pandemic, he worked on a digital film platform called "Shouf Film" that shared global alternative cinema films with people who were social distancing and staying at home. Waguih has been nominated for many awards and honors, including being placed on the shortlist for the "Visible Award 2015," and being a chosen a speaker for "Cinema-Going in the Arab World" by NVIC - Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo. 

2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: Deaf Animation Workshop 

The 2023 Deaf Animation Workshop built on the success of a similar event in 2022, reaching new audiences and continuing to teach deaf students about the basics of animation through the use of stop-motion. Seventeen new students learned about animation and created their own stop-motion videos. Students worked on a 7-minute animated film focused on climate issues and environmental pollution. They wrote a script, created stop-motion figures from clay and edited the footage. A screening for the film was held in Alexandria, attended by the participants, their families, and other audience members.

To view the film “Our Planet’ produced by the participants, please visit:

 "I was able to participate in making an animated film just like speaking individuals. Yes, I am deaf, but I am capable of learning if provided with good training. I hope to continue and learn more advanced animated filmmaking using 3D technology." – Project Participant

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Deaf Animation Workshop

Workshops were conducted to educate and train young deaf participants about the basics of animation filmmaking through the stop-motion technique. A total of 17 deaf adolescents ages 11 to 16 were trained on the creation of stop-motion animation films. The workshop taught the basics of turning an idea into a scenario, design, direction, photography, animation and editing. Participants created 4 stop-motion animation films which were screened for the participants and other community members.

To watch the stop-motion animation videos, please visit:

IVLP Exchange Experience

Waguih participated in the IVLP Project Promoting Social Change through the Arts in 2021, organized by the U.S. Department of State and FHI 360, in partnership with Global Ties Arizona, Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, Global New Orleans, San Antonio Council for International Visitors, and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. He also participated in the IVLP Project Promoting Social Change through the Arts in 2022, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Mississippi Consortium for International Development, in partnership with the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council and the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City.

Waguih's exchange experience led him to develop his IVLP Impact Award Project: "The IVLP experience has contributed to the development of my ideas through my visits to arts and cultural institutions in the United States that are working to change and help societies through the arts. Those visits and meetings had a great impact on me... as they made me insist on using art for social change."

U.S. Communities Visited in 2022

Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; New York City, NY

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021

Phoenix, AZ; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington DC; New Orleans, LA; Cleveland, OH: San Antonio, TX

"IVLP was an amazing and exciting experience as I got to know many American art centers, experienced Americans and fellow participants. The IVLP gives you a great push to continue what you started in your country. It encouraged me to succeed in changing my community through arts." - Waguih El Laqany

Country: Egypt

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