Between 13 and 19 October, art-house cinema Zawya will pay tribute to the late iconic filmmaker Mohamed Khan by screening a special selection of his films in Cairo and Ismailia. The programme is curated by Egyptian writer Mohamed El-Masry and features a selection of Khan's most acclaimed films dating back to the 1980s and early 90s, all of which will be screened in 35mm. According to the programme description, this period witnessed what can be described as a "complete project" by Khan which he moulded in "an atmosphere of freedom, before the increase in film production challenges... and the huge obstacles [Khan] went on to experience with every new film he made.” “This [aforementioned] project culminated with [his film] Faris El-Madina, which was produced by Khan himself, and in which he lost a lot of money. Moreover, it's the only film he directed in which he also acted, and it also features different characters from his previous films, and tracks their fates.” Besides daily screenings at Zawya Cinema in Downtown Cairo, the tribute will also mark the launch of Zawya Ismailia, the newest initiative by Misr International Films (MIF). Three of Khan's films will be screened in three Ismaila-based venues: Misr Public Library, Al-Rowad Club and Mok3b co-working space. Khan died on 26 July at the age of 73 at a hospital in the Cairo district of Maadi following a sudden health crisis. He was one of Egypt's most prominent directors, belonging to a generation of neorealist filmmakers that represented a hallmark in Egyptian cinema. His movies tackled social issues that often revolved around female central characters. His latest film, Qabl Zahmat El-Saif (Before the Summer Crowds, 2015), premiered in Egypt at the 5th Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF). In December 2015, Khan released a book titled Mokhreg Aala Al-Tareeq (A Director on the Road). The book, published by Kotob Khan publishing house, comprises a selection of articles written by Khan between 1990 and 2014 and published in different newspapers as Al-Hayat, Al-Qabas and Al-Tahrir. Mokhreg Aala Al-Tareeq covered a large array of topics, including discussions of independent cinema, low-cost film production, and the problem of film distribution locally and in the Arab region. Born in Cairo in 1942 to an Egyptian mother and a Pakistani father, Khan was educated in Britain before beginning his film career in the Egyptian capital in the 1960s as a scriptwriter. He acquired the Egyptian nationality by a presidential decree in March 2014. Programme: Thursday 13 October: El-Harreef (The Player, 1983) with English Subtitles, Zawya Cinema, Cairo Friday 14 October: Kharag Wa Lam Ya'od (Gone with No Return, 1984) with French Subtitles, Zawya Cinema, Cairo Ahlam Hind Wa Kamilia (Hind and Kamilia's Dreams, 1989) , Misr Public Library, Ismailia Saturday 15 October: Zawgat Ragol Mohem (Wife of an Important Man, 1988) with French Subtitles, Zawya Cinema, Cairo Sunday 16 October: Ahlam Hind Wa Kamilia (Hind and Kamilia's Dreams, 1989) with French Subtitles, Zawya Cinema, Cairo Faris al-Madina (Knight of the City, 1992), Al-Rowad Club, Ismailia Monday 17 October: Supermarket (1990) with French Subtitles, Zawya Cinema, Cairo Tuesday 18 October: Faris El-Madina (Knight of the City, 1992) with French Subtitles, Zawya Cinema, Cairo Wednesday 19 October: El-Harreef (The Player, 1983), Mok3b co-working space, Ismailia All screenings begin at 7.30pm Addresses: Zawya, behind Odeon Cinema, 4 Abdel Hamid Said, off Talaat Harb St, Downtown, Cairo Misr Public Library, El-Sheikh Zayed, Ismailia Al-Rowad Club, Wadi Helfa St, Ismailia Mok3b co-working space, Sultan Hussein St, Vodafone Tower, Fourth floor, Ismailia For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture
