Biographies: Daoud Abdel Sayed - Director

Biographies

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Daoud Abdel Sayed is an Egyptian director and screenwriter. He obtained a BA in cinematography from the Higher Cinerama Institute in 1967. His childhood ambition was not to become a film director, but he wanted to be a journalist. He began working as an assistant director in some films, the most important of which are The Land by Youssef Chahine, and The Man Who Lost His Shadow by Kamal El Sheikh, and Illusions of Love by Mamdouh Shoukry. To make social documentaries due to his passion for monitoring the city and its people, he presented several documentaries, the most important of which are The Will of a Wise Man in Village Affairs and Education (1976), and About People, Prophets and Artists (1980), after which he started working On cinematic films, he directed The Tramps, The Land of Fear, and Messages from the Sea.

19 August 2021
Toqa Hesham

Daoud was awarded a bachelor’s degree in directing from the (Cinema institute) in 1967. As a child, he had not aspired for a career in directing but rather wanted to become a journalist. His cousin, who was a big fan of cartoons, had a strong influence on him in this respect. Daoud eventually bought a camera and experimented with it at home. Gradually, he got to know several people that worked in the film industry. When he was 16 years old his cousin took him to visit “Galal” studio where the director Ahmed Diaa Al Deen was shooting a movie. Daoud’s cousin knew the director (as they were both colleagues). While on the visit, Daoud was greatly impressed by the world of cinema and decided thereafter to enroll in the (Cinema institute). Daoud started working as an assistant director, at this early stage he contribute to several films, the most important of which were Youssef Chahine’s “Al Ard”, Kamal Al Sheikh’s “Al Rajul al lazy Faqad Zolah” and Mamdouh Shokry’s “Awham Al Hob”. At this point, Daoud discontinued this type of work. Daoud took his camera to the streets of Cairo and went looking for real life sociological accounts to make documentary films. Thus, he presented several documentary films, the most important of which are “Wassiyat Rajul Hakim fee Shoun Al Qaryah wa Al Taalim” (1976), “Al Aamal fee Al Haql” (1979) and “Aan Al Nas wa Al Anbya wa Al Fananeen” (1980). Work on these films provided Daoud with the opportunity to interact directly with common folk, this gave him a deeper insight into Egyptian society with all its divisions. Moreover, the experience allowed Daoud to appreciate the sensations of dynamic day-to-day lives.

3 August 2010
محمد ألطيب