Yassin Koptan
Giza,GZ
Summary
Award-winning filmmaker, editor, and creative director with a unique ability to intertwine film, music, and diverse cultures. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking from Los Angeles, establishing a bold visual language that emphasizes authenticity and human connection. Films have garnered recognition at prestigious events such as the Austin Film Festival and Festival de Cannes, while editing contributions to three feature films acquired by Netflix demonstrate a keen instinct for storytelling. A global creative footprint includes collaborations with renowned artists like Black Coffee and Tony Kaye, continually redefining the visual landscape in the Middle East through innovative projects that amplify youth, identity, and rebellion.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Editor in Chief
Sahara Magazine
05.2023 - Current
- Oversee the creative direction, editorial vision, and cultural positioning of SAHARA Magazine and its sub-brands (SAHARA SONICS, SAHARA RECORDS, SAHARA SOCIETY).
- Curate and edit written, visual, and video content across print, digital, and social platforms to document and amplify Middle Eastern skateboarding and creative cultures.
- Develop yearly editorial calendars, special issues, and branded collaborations with artists, musicians, and brands.
- Direct and produce original video series, interviews, and documentaries highlighting regional talent and underground movements.
- Lead the creative team, from writers and photographers to designers and video editors, ensuring consistent tone, aesthetic, and storytelling quality.
- Manage partnerships, sponsorships, and brand collaborations with local and international companies.
- Oversee event activations, exhibitions, and community initiatives under the SAHARA name.
- Maintain and expand SAHARA's visual identity, narrative consistency, and archive of media assets.
- Drive long-term growth strategy, monetization, and expansion into new media verticals.
- Oversaw production schedules and ensured timely publication of magazine editions.
- Led editorial team in developing engaging content for monthly issues.
Co-Founder, Managing Director
Kitchen Films
10.2017 - Current
- Introduced new matrix organizational plan with clear roles and responsibilities to enhance processes while ensuring quality and regulatory compliance.
- Developed key operational initiatives to drive and maintain substantial business growth.
- Invest, develop, direct, edit and distribute critically acclaimed projects that gained millions of views online.
- Established and administered annual budget with effective controls to prevent overages, minimize burn rate and support sustainability objectives.
- Manage creative, logistical, social and sales team and assign short term / long term tasks according to quarter goals.
- Create business model, feasibility studies and revenue research documents. Public Relations with high end clients.
- Negotiated terms of business acquisitions to increase business base, solidify market presence and diversify offerings.
- Investigated and addressed business development challenges to proactively mitigate problems.
- Aligned organizational objectives with company mission, increasing revenue, profit and business growth by collaboratively developing integrated strategies.
- Participated in high-level hiring decisions for key leadership positions, conducted senior hire interviews and nominated new board members.
Head of Video Department
Skateimpact
06.2009 - 04.2023
- Develop, revive and maintain the skateboarding scene in Egypt through videos, events, team influence and product sales.
- Create yearly plan divided by quarters in regards to all video projects and events.
- Manage team riders development, consistency and output.
- Manage video department team, logistics and creative.
- Organize company's entire video archive and create long term folder system.
- Representing the skateboarders of Egypt as part of the main cast in the internationally acclaimed feature film "Microphone".
- Produced and Directed in internationally acclaimed short film "Piece of Wood"
- Representing Dwindle Distribution brands Enjoi Skateboards, Tensor Trucks & Etnies Shoes in events, videos, montages and commercials according to manager direction.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
Video Editor / Director
Foodeez
06.2016 - 10.2017
- Edit marketing ads for International and National food based companies such as Tapatio, White Castle & Trident Seafood.
- Edited content in real time at events to deliver high-quality media content within short timeframes.
- Develop ideas, projects and concepts for clients such as Tapatio, Pop Chips & Heinz. Create project template folders and add project materials in corresponding folders.
- Delivered edits with multiple camera angle choices, titles, graphics, audio and special effects.
- Organize footage, create dailies strings and make selects according to script and shot-list.
- Edit and color correct first, second and final drafts of the project with minor sound editing.
- Participated in creative meetings to assist in developing ideas and defining project deadlines.
- Upload and deliver projects.
- Organize company's entire video archive and create long term folder system.
- Edit company reels and social media videos.
- Developed and managed projects from concept to completion, including storyboards, post-production editing and final delivery formats.
Video Editor
ShowMyProperty.TV
12.2017 - 05.2021
- Edit marketing ads for famous property sites and hotels
- Edited content in real time at events to deliver high-quality media content within short timeframes.
- Delivered edits with multiple camera angle choices, titles, graphics, audio and special effects.
- Organize footage, create dailies strings and make selects according to script and shot-list.
- Edit and color correct first, second and final drafts of the project with minor sound editing.
- Upload and deliver projects.
- Edited promotional videos for real estate listings, enhancing visual storytelling and engagement.
- Collaborated with production teams to ensure seamless video integration across various platforms.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Filmmaking
New York Film Academy
Burbank, California, United States01.2017
Associate's Degree - Photography
Citrus College
Azusa, California, United States08.2013
Skills
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere
- After Effects
- Color Correction
- Da Vinci Resolve
- Event Planning
- Film Directing
- Film Editing
- Film Production
- Keynote
- Marketing
- Microsoft Suite
- Numbers
- Pages
- Public Speaking
- Screen Writing
- Skateboarding
- Social Media Marketing
- Sound Design
- Team Leadership
- Team Management
- Creative vision
- Collaborative mindset
- Innovative thinking
- Deadline management
LANGUAGES
Arabic
Native or Bilingual
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Editor in Chief
Sahara Magazine
05.2023 - Current
Video Editor
ShowMyProperty.TV
12.2017 - 05.2021
Co-Founder, Managing Director
Kitchen Films
10.2017 - Current
Video Editor / Director
Foodeez
06.2016 - 10.2017
Head of Video Department
Skateimpact
06.2009 - 04.2023
Associate's Degree - Photography
Citrus College
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Filmmaking
New York Film Academy
PROJECTS
- Siwar (2025) Feature Film | Hakawati Ent./CineWaves Films | Editor.
- Saturday Saints - Crash (2024) Music Video | Kitchen Films | Producer/Writer/Director.
- Skumjas (2023) Short Film | Kitchen Films | Producer/Writer/Director/Editor.
- Junoon (2021) Feature Film | KOA/Netflix | Editor/Post Producer.
- Black Coffee, Diplo & Elderbrook- Never Gonna Forget (2021) Music Video | Ultra Records, Kitchen Films | Producer/Writer/Director.
- Marwan Moussa - The End of the World (2020) Music Video | Kitchen Films | Producer/Writer/Director/Editor.
- 100 Million Healthy Egyptians (2020) Advertisement | Ministry of Investment |Editor.
- Only Mine - (2019) Feature Film | Netflix | Editor.
- Fire the Bums (2018) PSA | Tony Kaye Productions/Supply & Demand | Editor.
- Hind's Case (2018) Short Film | Independent | Editor.
- Piece of Wood (2018) Short Film | Kitchen Films | Producer/Writer/Director/Editor.
- Cairokee - Layla (2017) Music Video | Kitchen Films | Producer/Writer/Director.
- A Birthday Card (2017) Short Film | Independent | Editor/Post-Production Supervisor.
- Hollywhore (2017) Promo | Tony Kaye Productions | DIT.
- A Chance for Peace (2017) Feature Documentary | Independent | Producer/Editor.
- Maryam (2017) Short Film | Independent | Editor.
- Film School Musical (2017) Short Film | Prince of Arabia Ent. | Editor.
- Halloween W/Pete Tong, Tiga & More (2016) After Movie/Promo | Minimal Effort | Editor/Director/Producer.
- Dreamcatcher (2016) Short Film | Kitchen Films | Editor.
AWARDS
- Nice International Film Festival Best Editing of a Foreign Language Film (Junoon) 2022.
- Frameline International LGBTQ Film Festival Audience Award for Best Short Film Nominee (Skumjas) 2021.
- Santa Monica Film Festival Honorable Mention (Skumjas) 2020.
- Woodstock Film Festival Audience Award for Best Short Film Nominee (Skumjas) 2020.
- Madrid International Film Festival Best Short Comedy Nominee (Piece of Wood) 2017.
- Austin Film Festival Best Student Film Audience Award Nominee (Piece of Wood) 2016.
- Burbank International Film Festival Best Foreign Short Nominee (Piece of Wood) 2016.
- Short To The Point Film Festival Best Student Film Winner (Piece of Wood) 2016