Mohamed Khan

Mohamed Khan (1942–2016)

🎬 Egyptian Film Director and Screenwriter

Mohamed Khan was one of the most prominent directors of realistic cinema in Egypt. He played a major role in developing this style from the late 1970s to the 1990s, presenting films that reflected social realities and everyday life.

📌 Personal Information:

📅 Born: October 26, 1942 – Cairo, Egypt

🕊️ Passed Away: July 26, 2016 – Cairo, Egypt

🌍 Nationality: 🇪🇬 Egyptian (granted citizenship in 2014)

👨‍👩‍👧 Children: Nadine Khan (film director)

🎓 Education and Early Career:

Initially studied architecture in England but shifted to cinema after meeting a Swiss film student.

Joined the London School of Film Technique, where he was influenced by cinematic movements such as the French New Wave and directors like Antonioni and Kurosawa.

Returned to Egypt, working with director Salah Abu Seif in the screenplay department, then moved to Lebanon as an assistant director.

🎬 Notable Films:

📽️ A Sunshine Hit (Darb El Shams, 1978)

🎭 The Player (El Harrif, 1983)

👔 A Husband of an Important Woman (Zawgat Ragol Mohem, 1988)

💔 Dreams of Hind and Camelia (Ahlam Hend w Kamlia, 1988)

🏡 Gone and Never Came Back (Kharag W Lam Ya’od, 1984)

🛒 Supermarket (1990)

🥋 Mr. Karate (1992)

🔥 A Very Hot Day (Youm Har Gidan, 1995)

🇪🇬 The Days of Sadat (Ayam El-Sadat, 2001)

👩‍❤️‍👩 Downtown Girls (Banat Wust El-Balad, 2005)

🏠 In the Heliopolis Apartment (Fi Shaqqat Masr El-Gedida, 2007)

🏖️ Before the Summer Crowds (Qabl Zahmat El-Saif, 2015)

🏆 Awards and Recognitions:

🏅 Special Jury Prize – Nantes Three Continents Festival for A Feather on the Road (1981)

🥈 Silver Tanit – Carthage Film Festival for Gone and Never Came Back (1984)

🎖️ Best Director – Film Society Festival for The Player (1985)

🎬 Best Arab Film Award – Damascus International Film Festival for In the Heliopolis Apartment (2007)

🏆 State Appreciation Award for his contributions to cinema

🤝 Key Collaborations:

🔹 Worked multiple times with several stars, including:

🎭 Ahmed Zaki (6 films)

🎞️ Nour El-Sherif

🎥 Yehia El-Fakharany

🎬 Bashir El-Dik (screenwriter for 6 films)

📽️ Said Shimi (cinematographer for 8 films)

🎼 Kamal Bakir (composer for 7 films)

🔚 His Cinematic Legacy:

Mohamed Khan was more than just a director—he was a cinema lover and a storyteller of real-life experiences that touched audiences. His legacy continues through his timeless films and his daughter Nadine Khan, who followed in his footsteps as a filmmaker.

🎥 "I make films because I love life. For me, cinema is life." – Mohamed Khan