Naguib Sawiris and Mohamed Hefzy Makes Variety's Most Influential Media Leaders List

Variety recently released their Variety500 list, which highlights the 500 most influential businessmen and women in the media industry. Naguib Sawiris, Executive Chairman at Global Telecom Holding has once again made the list, alongside newly-added Mohamed Hefzy, President at Cairo International Film Festival. The list is compiled by Variety's editorial board using their judgments of a person's overall merits and lending weight to their achievements over the past 12 months.

Naguib Sawiris was described by Variety as "an innovator in the TV sector" after buying a controlling stake in Euronews and creating Africanews. Variety celebrated his recent achievement in funding the El Gouna Film Festival, and lauded it as a growing frontline for the Arab film industry and international art movies throughout the Middle East region.

Variety also welcomed Mohamed Hefzy to their prestigious list, citing his reputation for producing ambitious festival titles like 'Sheikh Jackson' and 'Yomeddine' through his Film Clinic. Hefzy was also noted for co-producing 'Paranormal', Netflix's first original Arabic show from Egypt. Hefzy's Herculean efforts in leading the Cairo International Film Festival since 2018 was given special focus. Variety praised his fresh perspective as the "youngest ever director for the oldest cinema fest in the Arab and African worlds," which allowed him to successfully revamp the festival.

The list placed the two Egyptian media leaders among household names like Jeff Bezos, Martin Scorsese, Oprah Winfrey and Disney CEO Robert Iger.