Here is the person's biography:
Born on June 30, 1947, in Tanta, Egypt, to a family that was visiting relatives in the Delta town north of Cairo. He was the eldest of four siblings and lived in the countryside until he was five years old. The family then moved to Cairo for school, and he grew up in the popular neighborhood of Shoubra.
As a child, he was fascinated with cinema and would dig holes in the mud fence around his countryside home to observe the daily activities of the peasants. He was also influenced by his uncle, Kamel Youssef, a tall, handsome man who studied drama and literature in England and worked in radio and theater. His uncle's books opened his eyes to a new world.
He entered the Egyptian Higher Institute of Cinema and graduated in 1967. He worked as an assistant director on two features before heading to Poland to study on a one-year fellowship in 1968. There, he met his wife, Monika Kowalczyk, and they got married in October 1969. After returning to Egypt, he continued to work as an assistant director and also acted and wrote.
In 1972, he worked on the Polish movie "In Desert and in Wilderness" during its shooting in Egypt. From 1974 to 1986, he made over a dozen documentaries and short films on various topics. His first feature film was "Bloody Destinies," a co-production with Algeria, which was shot in 1976, finished in 1980, and released in 1982.
Over the years, he directed 11 feature movies, ranging from social drama to soul-searching, exploring the mixed identities of Egyptians. His filmography provides details on his work and the awards and honors he received nationally and internationally.
Recently, he has been teaching at the High Film Institute and has been on a steep learning curve to catch up with the digital revolution. His dream is to break free from the production monopoly in Egypt and make movies independently.
His family has been a great support and honest critic. He and his wife, Monika, have a daughter, Miranda, who is married and currently resides in the USA, and a son, Robert, who is starting college this year. Since 1996, he has been an Adjunct Professor at the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo, Egypt.
