Sherif El Bendary (b. 1978, Cairo, Egypt) graduated from the applied arts college and the directing department at the Higher Cinema Institute in 2007. His film 6 Girls (2005) won best documentary at the Goethe Student Film Festival (2006, Cairo), and the grand prize at the Image Festival (2006, Cairo). Rise & Shine (2006) received awards and international recognition at festivals in Egypt and the Netherlands and screened at the Tribeca Film Festival.