Abu Dhabi Film Festival honors Nobel Prize-winning author

During his lifetime, Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz (1911-2006) was famous for two important "firsts": he was the first Arab writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (in 1988) and the first Arab writer to dedicate significant effort to filmmaking.

Writer Naguib Mahfouz

Attacked by extremist Muslims.

In addition, ADFF also publishes a monograph on Mahfouz and cinema, organizes exhibitions of film posters, and holds discussions about the writer.

Born inCairoIn 1911, as a child, Mahfouz was not interested in studying. To him, school was like a "prison." However, he loved ancient history because his mother often took him to visit museums. In 1934, Mahfouz graduated from the Philosophy Faculty of the University of Arts.CairoAfter two years of graduate studies, he decided to become a professional writer.

Mahfouz published his first novel in 1939. From the 1940s onwards, Mahfouz earned a living as a civil servant. He worked in various government departments related to culture and film. At one point, he held the position of Head of Film Censorship. But from the late 1940s, he began writing screenplays and produced over 25 of them.

In 1994, at the age of 83, he had published over 30 novels and more than 100 short stories. But that same year, he was attacked with knives by two Islamic extremists when he published his novel.The Children of Gebalavi(The children of Gaballawi). He is accused of "blaspheming God and the Prophet Muhammad" as many characters in the novel "touch upon" religious figures such as Allah, the Creator and Almighty, Jesus, the Prophet Muhammad, Satan, etc.

In this incident, Mahfouz was injured in the neck and hospitalized for nearly two months. Since then, his hearing, vision, and writing abilities have been severely limited, not to mention his right arm can only be used for less than half an hour each day. In his final years, the writer was almost blind. He suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall while out for a night walk. Mahfouz breathed his last atCairoOn August 30, 2006, after more than a month in the hospital.

"The Balzac of Egypt"

Not only are renowned Egyptian directors such as Salah Abou Seif, Youssef Chahine, Hassan Al Imam, Kamal Al Sheikh, Ali Badrakhan, and Tawfik Saleh eager to bring his works to the big screen, but his two novels have also inspired two major Mexican directors, Jorge Fons and Arturo Ripstein, to make films. This year's ADFF film schedule also includes works by these filmmakers, and most of them will be present at the screenings.

Most of Mahfouz's novels have been translated into English and published by the University of Journalism.CairoPublished. After winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, his readership worldwide increased significantly, including that of former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Furthermore, an editor from Doubleday Publishing in New York traveled to Cairo to meet him and eventually secured the US publishing rights to his book.The Cairo Trilogy– Mahfouz's most famous work.

Speaking about the events honoring writer Mahfouz at this year's ADFF, Eissa Saif Al Mazrouei, Director of Special Projects on Culture and Heritage at ADFF, said: “The Film Festival seizes this opportunity to reaffirm the importance of celebrating the art of cinema by introducing exemplary figures from film history to a new audience today.”

Thanks to our collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Egyptian Film Centre, we have obtained newly subtitled copies of five films selected for screening at the ADFF in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Mahfouz's birth. These films, along with other events honoring Mahfouz at the festival, will give film and book lovers throughout the United Arab Emirates the opportunity to enjoy the works of one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, who has had a profound influence on both literature and cinema.”

Peter Scarlet, CEO of ADFF, said: “Mahfouz’s depictions of rural life are vivid and insightful, from his early works about ancient Egypt to his later works – focusing on the lives of the lower classes in Cairo – all are portrayed with subtlety. Mahfouz is considered the Balzac of Egypt.”

(According to TT&VH)