Aida Elkashef, also known as Aida Azzare, is an Egyptian actress, journalist and director. She is married to Bassam Azzare and has two daughters, born in 2021. Her films include: Homefront, The Gate, Summer, Mommy, Egypt, Queen and I, Queen of the Damned and Traffic Jam. She has been nominated for an Oscar in the Best Music and Comedy category for Homefront.
Aida Elkashef was born and raised in Cairo, where her father worked as a lawyer and her mother as a teacher. She graduated from the University of Cairo in 1986 and then went on to study at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where she pursued a degree in journalism. After that, she worked as a freelance journalist for several publications, one of which was the independent film magazine, specializing in feature articles. While at this time she also became known as an actor in various films including Rhapsody in Fall and Dinner at the Orchard. In her final years she appeared in the independent film Egypt, playing a reporter who covers the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in post-revolution Egypt. Aida el Kashef was married to Bassam Azzare in 1998, and they have two daughters, born in 2021.
Aida Elkashef’s credits also include producing documentaries, working as an assistant producer, news bureau correspondents, camera operator and traveling nurse. She lives in New York City. In addition to her acting work, Aida El-Kashef, was a producer and director of several independent films produced and narrated by her. She also served as an assistant producer on the award-winning documentary The Gatekeepers. In 2021, she produced and directed the award winning animated feature film, The Forbidden Planet. She is currently executive producing and supervising the production of the second feature film from her husband, titled, No Ordinary Family.