Sherif Arafa

🎬 Sherif Arafa – Egyptian Film Director, Screenwriter, and Producer

📅 Born: December 25, 1960

🏡 Nationality: 🇪🇬 Egypt

🎓 Education: Higher Institute of Cinema (1982)

🎥 Profession: Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer

👨‍👩‍👦 Family: Son of director Saad Arafa, older brother of director Amr Arafa

🏆 Career Highlights

Sherif Arafa began his cinematic journey in 1987 by directing The Dwarfs Are Coming, followed by Third Class starring Soad Hosny, which initially struggled at the box office.

However, he soon established himself with groundbreaking films that became milestones in Egyptian cinema.

🎞️ Notable Films Directed

📌 1990s:

🎥 Playing with Giants (1991) 🎭

🎥 Terrorism & Kebab (1992) 🔥

🎥 The Forgotten (1993) 🎭

🎥 Birds of Darkness (1995) 🏛️

🎥 Sleep in Honey (1996) 🕵️‍♂️

🎥 Smile, The Picture Will Come Out Fine (1998) 📷

📌 2000s:

🎥 Abboud on the Borders (1999) 🚶‍♂️

🎥 El Nazer (2000) 😂

🎥 Mafia (2002) 🕶️

🎥 Chinese Takeaway (2004) 🥢

🎥 Halim (2006) 🎤

🎥 The Island (2007) 🏝️

🎥 Cousins (2009) 🕵️

📌 2010s & Beyond:

🎥 X Large (2011) 🏋️‍♂️

🎥 The Island 2 (2014) 🏝️

🎥 The Passage (2019) 🪖

🎥 The Boogeyman & Humans (2021) 👻

🎥 Playing with Kids (2024) 🎭

📺 Productions & TV Work

🎬 Films Produced:

🎞️ Ibn Ezz (2001) 🎭

🎞️ Halim (2006) 🎶

📡 TV Shows & Programs:

📺 Tamer & Shawqia (2006) 😂

📺 Critical Moments (2006) 🚑

📺 The People and I (2006) 🎤

🌟 Discovering New Talents

👀 He played a major role in launching the careers of many famous actors, including:

⭐ Mohamed Henedy

⭐ Ahmed Helmy

⭐ Mohamed Saad

⭐ Karim Abdel Aziz

⭐ Ahmed Mekky

⭐ Alaa Wali El Din

⭐ Mona Zaki

⭐ Haitham Ahmed Zaki

⭐ Nour

🏅 Awards & Honors

🏆 Best Director & Best Film Award from Egypt's Minister of Culture for:

Playing with Giants

Terrorism & Kebab

The Forgotten

🏆 Silver Award for Best Film – Milan Festival (1992) for Terrorism & Kebab

🏆 Bronze Award – Venice Festival (1995) for Birds of Darkness

🏆 Silver Award – Milan Festival (1995) for Birds of Darkness

🏆 Best Director – National Film Festival (2007) for Halim

🏆 Faten Hamama Honorary Award (2019)

🏆 Joy Awards Honorary Prize – Riyadh (2022)

🎬 In 2022, seven of his films were ranked among the Top 100 Egyptian Comedy Films at the Alexandria Film Festival.

🎥 His film Playing with Giants was also featured in the Top 100 Egyptian Films list (1996).

🎭 Artistic Style

🔥 Blends comedy, drama, and suspense

🎼 Masterfully integrates music and sound effects

🎞️ Creates commercial films with high artistic quality

🔍 Expert at discovering and nurturing young talent

Sherif Arafa remains one of the most influential filmmakers in Egypt and the Arab world, consistently delivering powerful and memorable works. 🎬🔥