Samir Aouf
Directing
Biography
An Egyptian writer and director, born in the Al Qalaa neighborhood in Cairo. He graduated from the Academy of Arts, Higher Institute of Cinema, Department of Directing in 1965. At the beginning of his career, he worked as an assistant director to many directors, including Shadi Abdel Salam in The Mummy (1969). He joined the department of documentary programs on Egyptian TV from 1966 until 1985. He participated several times as chairman and member of the jury of the Documentary and Short Film Competition in many local and international festivals, including The National Egyptian Film Festival. He worked as a lecturer on documentary cinema at the Egyptian Television Institute. He was honored at the National Egyptian Film Festival, and a book about his life entitled "Samir Aouf - The Traveler to the Self" was published in 2002. His credits include Cairo 1830 (1969).
Known For
Set in 1881, a year before the start of British colonial rule, it is based on the true story of the Abd el-Rasuls, an Upper-Egyptian clan that had been robbing a cache of mummies they have discovered at tomb DB320 near the village of Kurna, and selling the artifacts on the black market. After a conflict within the clan, one of its members made a crucial decision when the Antiquities Service arrived.
The Night of Counting the Years
Shedding light on the two famous Colossi of Memnon located in Luxor, with the use of some of the fossil paintings by David Roberts and the songs of Hassan Abu Laila in the background of the events.
Two Faces in the Landscape
Director Samir Auf provides through his film a depiction of Egypt based on the paintings by David Roberts, through which he reviews the history of Egypt during the nineteenth century.