An Egyptian filmmaker born in 1961. She studied microbiology and chemistry until 1990 when she turned her attention to cinema and began working as an assistant director to leading independent filmmakers in contemporary Egypt including Atteyat El-Abnoudy, Youssef Chahine and Yousri Nassrallah.  Salata Baladi (An Egyptian Salad), her first film, has been produced in this spirit of indomitable independence. After nearly five years of working solo, she was joined by co-producers Films d'Ici and Ventura Films in the post-production of this family tale celebrating a century of Egyptian cosmopolitanism.