Large number of artists show deep love for legendary Wahid Hamed during his seminar

CAIRO - 6 December 2020: Artists and cinephiles turned out in unprecedented numbers in a show of love and appreciation for legendary screenwriter, Wahid Hamed.

Hamed’s seminar which carried the name of “ Falahna el Faseeh” was held on December 6 and moderated by cinema critic Tarek el Shenawy.

The seminar celebrated his illustrious career and immeasurable contributions to Egyptian cinema. 

“ I didn’t discuss any topic unless I am totally convinced with it, whether I am right or wrong” Hamed said.

Elham Chahine to Wahid Hamed during his seminar: “You have changed the bases of cinema.”

The iconic screenwriter said that he worked with young directors to renew my thoughts, among them is his son Egyptian director Marwan Hamed.

“ You didn’t live in the era of Wahid Hamed, but Wahid Hamed is the one who lived in your era” Hamed said to the seminar attendees.

Hamed further explained that a good script requires imagination.

“ The one has to feel the reality, in order to be able to deliver it on screen” Hamed said.

Laila Eloui to Wahid Hamed: “ You added a lot to the Egyptian society and made the society love our dreams.”

Cairo International Film honored Hamed in the opening ceremony of its 42nd edition with the Golden Pyramid Award for Lifetime Achievement for a career that spanned over five decades, during which he wrote over 40 films and 30 television and radio series, most of them garnering commercial and critical success.

His first strong and successful work was "Ahlam al-Fata al-Taer" (Dreams of the Flying Boy) released in 1978.

This famous television series was the start of his longtime cooperation with the legendary Egyptian actor Adel Emam.

Since then, both Hamed and Emam began an artistic partnership that produced many iconic, unforgettable films. 


Among their most famous movies together is "Al-Erhab wel Kabab" (Terrorism and Kebab) in 1992, which is a black comedy discussing government corruption and the sufferings of the middle class in Egypt. 

The duo also worked together on, "Al-Ghoul" (The Ogre) in 1983, and “Toyour al-Zalam” (The Birds of Darkness) in 1995, which tackled political corruption in Egypt and the appearance of the Muslim Brotherhood at the time. 

Their most known collaboration took place in the famous controversial movie "Omaret Yacoubian" (The Yacoubian Building) in 2006, which was the first long feature movie for Hamed's son, Marwan Hamed, as a director. 

Hamed also wrote the controversial movie "Al-Baree’" (The Innocent) in 1997; a movie that conveyed a controversial political message which made Hamed face a long censorship battle. "Al-Baree’" was screened 19 years post its production and only after the ending was changed. 

In 2002, Hamed wrote the political comedy movie "Ma’ali al-Wazeer" (The Minister) again tackling government corruption. 

Hamed received numerous awards from many film festivals. He was awarded for his movies "Al-Le’eb Ma’al Kobar" (Playing with Big People) in 1991, "Ehky ya Scheherazade" (Tell the Story, Scheherazade) in 2009, and "Ot W Far" (Cat and Mouse) in 2015. 

His last television series "Al-Gama’a" (The Brotherhood) in 2010, and "Return of Al-Gama’a" in 2017, tackled the history and impact of the Muslim Brotherhood, since its emergence, on Egypt. 

Hamed also established a production company titled Wahid Hamed Film Productions, to produce his and others’ works. He has worked alongside many veteran Egyptian directors in over 40 films and numerous TV series including Yousry Nasrallah, Atef al-Tayeb and Sherif Arafa, among others.