Biography
Youssef Chahine (born in Alexandria, Egypt, 1926) started studying in a friars' school and then turned to Victoria College until High School Certificate. After one year at the University of Alexandria, he moved to the U.S. and spent two years at the Pasadena Play House, taking courses on film and dramatic arts. After coming back to Egypt, cinematographer Alevise Orfanelli helped him into the film business. His film debut was Baba Amin (1950): one year later, with Son of the Nile (1951) he was first invited to the Cannes Film festival. In 1970, he was awarded a Golden Tanit at the Carthage Festival. With Le moineau (1973), he directed the first Egypt-Algeria co-production. He won a Silver Bear in Berlin for Alexandria... Why? (1979), the first installment in what proved to be an autobiographic trilogy, completed with Hadduta Masriya (1982)(An Egyptian Story (1982)) and Alexandria: Again and Forever (1989). In 1992, Jacques Lassalle proposed him to stage a piece of his choice for Comédie Française: Chahine chose to adapt Albert Camus' "Caligula," which proved hugely successful. The same year he started writing The Emigrant (1994), a story inspired by the Biblical character of Joseph, son of Jacob. This had long been a dream project, and he finally got to shoot it in 1994. In 1997, 46 years and 5 invitations later, he was again selected Hors Competition in Cannes with Destiny (1997).
Directed 46
2000s
- 2007
Chaos, This Is?
Director
- 2004
Alexandria... New York
Director
- 2002
- 2001
Silence... We're Rolling
Director
1990s
- 1999
The Other
Director
- 1998
Kolha Khatwa
Director
- 1997
Destiny
Director
- 1995
Lumière & Company
Director
- 1994
The Emigrant
Director
- 1991
Cairo as Told by Youssef Chahine
Director
1980s
- 1989
Alexandria Again and Forever
Director
- 1986
The Sixth Day
Director
- 1985
Adieu Bonaparte
Director
- 1982
An Egyptian Story
Director
1970s
- 1979
Alexandria… Why?
Director
- 1976
Return of the Prodigal Son
Director
- 1973
Entelak
Director
- 1972
The Sparrow
Director
The People and the Nile
Director
Salwa, the Little Girl Who Talks to Cows
Director
- 1971
The Choice
Director
Sands of Gold
Director
- 1970
The Land
Director
1960s
- 1968
The Nile and the Life
Director
- 1967
The Feast of Mairun
Director
- 1965
The Ring Seller
Director
- 1964
Dawn of a New Day
Director
- 1963
Saladin
Director
- 1961
A Man in My Life
Director
- 1960
Lovers' Call
Director
In Your Hands
Director
1950s
- 1959
Forever Yours
Director
- 1958
Jamila, the Algerian
Director
Cairo Station
Director
- 1957
My One And Only Love
Director
- 1956
Farewell, Love
Director
Struggle in the Harbor
Director
- 1954
The Devil of the Desert
Director
The Blazing Sun
Director
- 1953
Women Without Men
Director
- 1952
Lady of The Train
Director
The Great Clown
Director
- 1951
Son of the Nile
Director
- 1950
Baba Amin
Director
1940s
- 1944
School life
Director
Wrote 28
2000s
- 2004
Alexandria... New York
Writer
- 2002
- 2001
Silence... We're Rolling
Writer
1990s
- 1999
The Other
Writer
- 1998
Kolha Khatwa
Writer
- 1997
Destiny
Writer
- 1994
The Emigrant
Writer
1980s
- 1989
Alexandria Again and Forever
Writer
- 1986
The Sixth Day
Writer
- 1985
Adieu Bonaparte
Screenplay, Dialogue
- 1982
An Egyptian Story
Writer
1970s
- 1979
Alexandria… Why?
Writer
- 1976
Return of the Prodigal Son
Writer
- 1973
Entelak
Writer
- 1972
The Sparrow
Writer
Salwa, the Little Girl Who Talks to Cows
Writer
- 1971
The Choice
Writer
Sands of Gold
Writer
1960s
- 1968
The Nile and the Life
Writer
- 1963
Saladin
Screenplay
1950s
- 1956
Struggle in the Harbor
Screenplay, Story
- 1954
The Devil of the Desert
Screenplay
- 1953
Women Without Men
Writer
- 1952
Lady of The Train
Screenplay
The Great Clown
Writer
- 1951
Son of the Nile
Writer
- 1950
Baba Amin
Writer
1940s
- 1944
School life
Writer
Acted in 12
2000s
- 2006
Ouija
Movie
- 2000
Kiarostami in Close up
as Self
1990s
- 1998
Concerto in Darb Saada
Movie
- 1992
Chahine & Co
Movie
1980s
- 1989
Alexandria Again and Forever
Yehia Eskendarany / Marc Antoine / Sostratus / Hephaestion
- 1986
The Sixth Day
Rafah
- 1982
An Egyptian Story
Old Yehia
1970s
- 1979
Alexandria… Why?
Movie
1960s
- 1964
Dawn of a New Day
Hamada
1950s
- 1959
Ismail Yassine in the Air Force
Movie
- 1958
Cairo Station
Qinawi
- 1953
Women Without Men
Movie
Produced 10
2000s
- 2007
Chaos, This Is?
Producer
- 2001
Silence... We're Rolling
Producer
1990s
- 1999
The Other
Producer
- 1994
The Emigrant
Producer
1980s
- 1982
An Egyptian Story
Producer
1970s
- 1979
Alexandria… Why?
Producer
- 1978
Shafiqa and Metwally
Producer
- 1977
The Water-Carrier Is Dead
Producer
- 1976
Return of the Prodigal Son
Producer
- 1972
The Sparrow
Producer
Sound 2
2000s
- 2001
Silence... We're Rolling
Music
1980s
- 1986
The Sixth Day
Songs
Appearances12
2010s
- 2019
Let's Talk
Self (archive footage)
Into Studio Masr
Self
- 2011
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self · 2 episodes
2000s
- 2009
Chahine…Why?
Self
- 2002
Women Who Loved Cinema
Self
1990s
- 1991
Cairo as Told by Youssef Chahine
Self
1980s
- 1987
Matin Bonheur
Self · 1 episode
Trio
Self
1970s
- 1974
No release date
شاهين ابن النيل
himself
Shaheen... Why?
self · 1 episode