Remembering Realism film school master Mohamed Khan

CAIRO – 26 October 2017: Thursday marks the birthday of Realism film school master Mohamed Khan. In memory of the iconic director, Egypt Today sheds light on some of his life and achievements.

Khan was born and brought up in Cairo, but he had the British nationality. Since his early years, he had a great passion for cinema, he left engineering and directed to his path to cinematic studies. He also wrote a number of articles and studies about cinema.

His cinema career started as a reviewer in the scenario section with the prominent director Salah Abu Saif. In late 1970s, Khan’s massive affection towards cinema led him to direction. He directed his first film in 1978 entitled, “Darbet Shams” [Sunstroke].


A Scene from “Zawget Ragol Mohem” [Photo Courtesy: Youtube]
Believing in using cinema in social reform, Khan managed to establish a strong work team through his friendships in the Egyptian cinema scene. The team included the screenwriter Bashir El Deek, the legendary cinematographer Tarek El Telmissany, the editor Nadia Shoukry, and the composer Kamal Bekeer.


A Scene from “El Hareef” [Photo Courtesy: Youtube]
Being one from the Realism film school, Khan had strong a friendship with a number of iconic Egyptian directors such as Atef El Tayeb, Dauod Abdel Sayed, and Khairy Beshara.

He gifted the Egyptian cinema many impressive influential films such as “Ahlam Hend Wi Camilia” [Hend’s and Camilia’s Dreams], “Ayam El Sadat” [Sadat’s Life], “Zawget Ragol Mohem” [An Important Man’s Wife], “El Hareef” [The Street Player], “Fatat El Masnaa’” [Factory’s Girl], “Abl Zahmet El Seef” [Before the Summer’s Traffic].


Khan’s films [Photo Courtesy: Archive]
Due to his wonderful skills, Khan won many prizes such as Best Director from Film Association in 1985, Best Director from the Egyptian Catholic Center in 2008, a Golden Appreciation Award in Best First Film Directing in Alexandria International Film Festival in 1978.


Fatat El Masna Scene
In addition, a number of his films won various international prizes participated in different international film festivals such as Dubai International Film Festival, Alexandria International Film Festival, Academy Awards, Damascus International Film Festival and Festival de Cannes.


“Ayam El Sadat” Poster [Photo: Wikipedia]