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SEKEM - THE MIRACLE IN THE DESERT

In 1976, Ibrahim Abouleish follows his vision and returns from Austria, where he lived for over 20 years, back to his home country Egypt to found the development initiative SEKEM.

He buys a piece of desert land and begins to cultivate it with biodynamic agriculture. Forty years later, SEKEM employs over 2,000 people and operates with the Heliopolis University, the first university for sustainable development in the Arab-African region.

SEKEM - THE MIRACLE IN THE DESERT sheds light on the philosophical and practical background of this exceptional initiative, whose example shows highly explosive themes, such as climate change, sustainable management, energy supply and awareness raising development of comprehensible and forward-looking perspectives.

Ibrahim Abouleish was awarded the Alternative Nobel Prize for his initiativeand died in 2017. SEKEM is continued by his son SEKEM CEO Helmy Abouleish today.

A film of special significance on a model for the future of sustainable development.

  • Ramon Pachernegg
    Director
    ANIMA - DIE RÜCKKEHR INS PARADIES, UNENDLICH JETZT, DAS GLÜCK DER ANDEREN
  • Jasmine Wagner
    Writer
    UNENDLICH JETZT
  • Ramon Pachernegg
    Producer
    ANIMA - DIE RÜCKKEHR INS PARADIES, UNENDLICH JETZT, DAS GLÜCK DER ANDEREN, WEGE ZUM SELBST
  • Helmy Abouleish
    Key Cast
    "Helmy Abouleish"
  • Mona Abouleish
    Key Cast
    "Mona Abouleish"
  • Ibrahim Abouleish
    Key Cast
    "Ibrahim Abouleish"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    SEKEM - DAS WUNDER IN DER WÜSTE
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    36 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 2, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Austria
  • Country of Filming:
    Egypt
  • Language:
    English, German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Full HD 4:2:2
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Graz
    Austria
    July 2, 2019
    Austria Premiere
    not yet
Distribution Information
  • WEGE ZUM SELBST
    Country: Austria
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Ramon Pachernegg

Filmography (selection):
DAS GLÜCK DER ANDEREN, Doc., 2008, 90 Min.
AM MAGNETBERG, Doc., 2011, 35 Min.
UNENDLICH JETZT, Doc., 2014, 90 Min.
SINCE 2012: SHORT MOVIES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS in Cooperation with CastYourArt
SINCE 2016: SHORT MOVIES for the platform WEGE ZUM SELBST a.o: ANIMA - THE RETURN TO PARADISE, Doc., 2018, 12 Min.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My current work is more and more focused on topics of consciousness development and a sustainable and holistic lifestyle. I travel the world to visit visionary projects and come along with a visionary movie about it. I see myself as a "consciousness-filmmaker" with an integral approach to all of my projects.