Rediscover Egypt’s Golden Age of Cinema At Arab Media Forum

Imagine stepping back in time to the exciting days of Egyptian cinema from the 1950s to the 1980s. Well, that’s exactly what’s happening at an exhibition during the Arab Media Forum. People from all over are coming to this exhibition, and here’s why.

This special corner of the forum is shining a spotlight on a period when Egypt was a powerhouse in making movies. Muhammad Al-Bibi, who got into the world of Arab cinema in 1953, was part of this golden era.

He started by selling cinema tickets and promoting films in Beirut. Eventually, he became the head of the Itani Film Company, which ran the biggest chain of cinemas in Beirut back then.

What’s fascinating is that back in those days, there wasn’t fancy technology to create movie posters. Instead, talented artists would watch the films and then head back to their studios to paint and print posters to advertise them.

Now, the Bibi family has collected these old posters, and they’re like a treasure trove. They take us on a nostalgic journey back to Egypt’s cinematic glory days. So, if you’re a fan of movies or history, this exhibition is a must-visit.

Muhammad Al-Bibi, a filmmaker from Syria who now lives in the United States. He’s the big boss of a company called Itani Film Company in Los Angeles. They make movies in Arabic.

Muhammad was born in Aleppo, Syria, in 1970. He learned about making movies at the University of Damascus and then went to the American Film Institute in the U.S. After he finished school there, he started working as a director and producer for short films and TV shows.

In 2009, Muhammad started his own company, Itani Film Company. Their first big movie, “A Perfect Day,” came out in 2010. People loved it, and it even won a fancy award called the Golden Lion at a big film festival in Venice.

Since then, Muhammad’s company has made more cool movies like “Theeb” in 2014, “Omar” in 2013, and “Capernaum” in 2018. These movies are special because they show Arab culture and life in a sensitive way.

Muhammad is a big deal in the world of Arab films. He likes making movies that are fun to watch but also make you think. He also thinks it’s important to show stories from the Arab world to the whole world.

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Here are some of the movies Muhammad Al-Bibi has worked on:

• “A Perfect Day” (2010)
• “Theeb” (2014)
• “Omar” (2013)
• “Capernaum” (2018)
• “The Journey” (2022)
• “All Quiet on the Western Front” (2023)