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‘Magic of Cinema’ show opens in Dubai tomorrow

DUBAI — Exceptional stills and impromptu shots of gifted Arab filmmaker from Egypt Youssef Chahine will go on display tomorrow at the Dubai Media City. The exhibition of rare photographs titled, ‘The Magic of Cinema’ will last until December 16.

The event is being organised in association with the Fourth Dubai International Film Festival and is being presented by the French Embassy in the UAE and Alliance Francaise de Dubai.

Youssef Chahine, director of over 40 films, is regarded as one of the most independent of Arab filmmakers, producing what he thinks is important, even at his own expense, and raising issues that concern the masses.

“Youssef Chahine is a filmmaker of international eminence. He has created one of the most diverse and prestigious body of film work of any living Arab director and the Magic of Cinema offers Dubai’s audiences with an opportunity to see him like never before,” said Raphael Millet, the French Embassy’s Regional Audiovisual Attache.

Millet noted that Chahine’s work is on a par with those of celebrated international directors such as Fellini, Bergman and Kurosawa and has influence of the most vibrant popular cinemas of the world and is rooted in the rich traditions of popular Arabic culture.

In recognition of Chahine’s contributions to Arab and international cinema, the Fourth Dubai International Film Festival will present him with the ‘DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award’.

“It was therefore very important and relevant that we had some pictures of Youssef Chahine in this exhibition,” says Millet.