Ismailia Film Festival Hosts Exhibition on Director Shadi Abdel Salam
The exhibition will be open for the festival's length, from February 28th to March 5th.
The Ismailia International Film Festival is set to host an exhibition dedicated to the memory of the legendary Egyptian director, Shadi Abdel Salam. The exhibition will feature photos taken by the great photographer Mohamed Bakr. The festival is the oldest running film festival in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa, and the 25th edition will run from February 28th to March 5th. Bakr’s photos will be on display in the Islamilia Culture Palace for the festival's duration.
The exhibition will showcase selected photos from Bakr’s archive, including depictions of director Shadi Abdel Salam both behind and in front of the camera. Shadi Abdel Salam was known for his passion for telling stories with a strong Egyptian identity, and his best-known film is ‘The Night of Counting the Years’. This film tells the story of a clash between modern Egypt and its ancient roots. Shadi Abdel Salam also directed several other docudramas over his career, all aimed at raising awareness of ancient Egyptian heritage.
Mohamed Bakr had a prolific 60-year career in photography during the golden age of Egyptian film and was credited with more than a thousand films. He often took behind-the-scenes photos while on set, making his archive a treasure trove of Egyptian film icons. Amongst them are many never-before-seen images of Shady Abdel Salam.
