The Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival is preparing to present a different experience as part of its fourth edition, scheduled to take place from September 10 to 15, 2026, by highlighting the early cinematic experiences of several figures who later became prominent stars and filmmakers.
The festival’s retrospective program includes screenings of two films directed by actor Karim Abdel Aziz, offering audiences a glimpse into a different side of his artistic journey and revealing his early experience in directing during his studies at the Higher Institute of Cinema.
Karim Abdel Aziz as a Director at the Hurghada Festival
The selection of two films directed by Karim Abdel Aziz for the Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival comes as part of the festival’s interest in presenting graduation projects and early artistic works by major directors and artists. The initiative aims to introduce younger generations to the experiences that preceded the current achievements of established figures in the industry.
The experience is particularly significant in the case of Karim Abdel Aziz, who graduated from the Directing Department of the Higher Institute of Cinema in 1997 before becoming one of the most prominent stars of Egyptian cinema.
Screening these works gives audiences and students an opportunity to discover an early stage of a different artistic experience, particularly because Karim Abdel Aziz has been widely known for his acting career over the years. These films represent a less familiar side of his journey, connected to his academic training in directing. ⭐
“Al-Thoob Al-Aali”.. One of the Festival’s Films
One of the films included in the festival’s program is “Al-Thoob Al-Aali,” directed by Karim Abdel Aziz and starring actor Sayed Abdel Karim and Alaa Khamis.
The film is based on a story by Mohamed Abdel Rahman, while Tamer Habib wrote the screenplay, bringing together several artistic figures who contributed to the production of the project during that period.
The screening of “Al-Thoob Al-Aali” comes as part of a program focusing on early works and projects that reveal the first steps of artists in filmmaking, allowing audiences to discover older experiences connected to the formative stages of their creators’ artistic journeys.
“Loha Men Lahm”.. Karim Abdel Aziz’s Graduation Project
The second film is “Loha Men Lahm,” which served as Karim Abdel Aziz’s graduation project during his studies in the Directing Department at the Higher Institute of Cinema.
The film stars Ehab Fahmy, Mirna Walid, and Saudi actor Khaled Al Harbi, while Ali Shawky wrote the screenplay and Karim Abdel Aziz directed the project.
The film explores several issues related to young people, particularly their confrontation with the future, entering the challenges of life, and attempting to deal with the pressures and ambitions associated with this stage.
The choice of this subject reflects the nature of projects often explored by film students during their academic years, as graduation projects provide a space for presenting personal visions of social and human issues while testing directing skills before entering professional life.
The Hurghada Festival Connects Different Generations
The purpose of screening these films is not limited to celebrating figures who have built successful artistic careers. It is also part of a broader vision adopted by the Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival to create opportunities for communication between different generations of filmmakers and creative talents.
The retrospective program gives students from film institutes and academies an opportunity to discover earlier experiences by filmmakers who later established significant careers in cinema. This can help younger creators gain experience and compare artistic development across different generations.
Screening graduation projects also emphasizes the importance of early beginnings. First experiences can represent an essential stage in shaping an artist and refining their skills, even if they later move toward a different artistic field or become famous through acting rather than directing.
Celebrating Karim Abdel Aziz’s Directing Experience
Screening “Al-Thoob Al-Aali” and “Loha Men Lahm” gives audiences an opportunity to discover Karim Abdel Aziz from a different perspective than his familiar image as a major cinema star.
Alongside his long career in front of the camera, the works he created during his studies reveal an early interest in directing and filmmaking, making his inclusion in the festival’s retrospective program particularly significant.
The two screenings are expected to attract the attention of film students and followers of Karim Abdel Aziz’s career, particularly because both projects are connected to an early stage of his academic and artistic journey.
Through programs of this kind, the Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival continues to emphasize the importance of preserving cinematic memory and making early works available to new audiences. Such initiatives create dialogue between the past and present while giving younger generations an opportunity to discover the beginnings of major creative figures before they reached stardom. ✨
