Name: Mustafa Eck

Recipient Year: 2011|2022

Major: Film Studies

Description: Mustafa grew up between the US, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He still marks the Polaroid camera his mom bought him for his 10th birthday as a major milestone in his life as a visual artist. Prior to attending the School of Cinematic Arts, Mustafa attended the Zaki Gordon Institute where he created a short documentary exploring his dual American-Egyptian heritage, titled Ana Mish Fahim ( I don’t Understand). This film was selected as a finalist for the Student Academy Award. In 2010, Mustafa produced an award-winning short film out of the UCLA MFA film program, The Perfect Gentleman (Panavision New Filmmakers grant, Hollywood Foreign Press award). At the beginning of 2011, just days before the Egyptian revolution (Jan. 25th), Mustafa directed an Arabic hip hop music video in the heart of Tahrir Square in Cairo. Mustafa is currently directing his first feature length film, The I Don’t Understand Movie, based on his award winning short, Ana Mish Fahim (www.TheIDontUnderstandmovie.com)..

School Name: University of Southern California

Sponsor: ISF Film Grant|MPAC|Afzal Family Foundation

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafa-toby-eck-656b10156/