The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) hosted a session with celebrated actor Khaled El Nabawy as a centerpiece of its “Cairo Film Days” program. The star was this year’s recipient of the Faten Hamama Excellence Award, recognizing his influential contributions to Egyptian and Arab cinema.
During the discussion, El Nabawy traced the arc of his career, outlining an artistic philosophy centered on continuous growth. He stated that a core principle guiding his choices has been to ensure each new role surpasses the previous one. He credited his early work with leading directors for providing him with foundational professional skills and a lasting passion for the craft.
The actor paid tribute to the late auteur Youssef Chahine, describing his unique directorial method. El Nabawy noted Chahine’s ability to cultivate a specific atmosphere for each scene, a talent he also observed in contemporary director Kamal El Zokary. He elaborated that Chahine’s simple direction of “Action” was not just a cue but a conveyance of precise emotional nuance, which he characterized as a hallmark of directorial genius.
The conversation revisited key projects that defined his filmography and shaped his on-screen presence. These ranged from foundational films such as “Al-Massir” (The Destiny), “Al-Mosafir” (The Traveller), and “Al-Mowaten” (The Citizen) to his acclaimed television work in “Hadeeth Al-Sabah Wal-Masa” (Morning and Evening Talk), as well as his roles in international productions.
The session was attended by a gathering of film critics, journalists, and industry professionals. The audience also included CIFF President Hussein Fahmy and the actor’s son, fellow actor Nour El Nabawy, culminating in a comprehensive dialogue on the intricacies of cinematic art.
TunisianMonitorOnline Correspondent (Douha Essaafi)
