Recapping the insightful masterclass, given by the incredible Yousry Nasrallah

 

The 45th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival hosted a master class with renowned director Yousry Nasrallah at the open-air theater at the Cairo Opera House, as part of the Cairo Film Industry Days (CID).

 

A cinematic icon, Yousry Nasrallah, the CIFF 45th edition recipient of the Golden Pyramid Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement, gave us a glimpse into his brilliant mind and soul during his masterclass at CIFF. His words were a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom, leaving us wishing the night didn’t end.

 

 

Moderated by director Tamer Ashry, the masterclass offered an in-depth look at Nasrallah’s rich artistic career, as he shared his reflections on a career that spans decades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nasrallah also discussed his film Sarikat Sayfiya (Summer Thefts), explaining that he struggled to convince actresses to take part in the project due to its storyline and concerns about being disliked by audiences. He shared that he made the film on a budget of 50,000 USD, which he borrowed from one of his relatives. Although Summer Sarikat Sayfiya didn’t achieve significant box office success, Nasrallah emphasized that he felt he was a director capable of offering something unique. 

 

 

The veteran director spoke about his childhood and how he debuted his career, noting that he comes from a cultured, aristocratic family and was educated in a German school with a limited number of students.

 

“I learned and lived in a kind of bubble,” he explained. He described his childhood as difficult, saying the only time he felt truly safe was when watching a film.

 

 

He made a point of establishing a close, straightforward relationship with his actors, reassuring them that he chose them based on his artistic vision, not on potential box office returns. This was evident when he cast newcomers with no prior acting experience. Nasrallah narrated how he was fascinated with the idea of casting first-time actors.

 

 

Nasrallah also shared insights from his time working on films directed by the legendary Youssef Chahine, where he first served as an assistant director. He gained invaluable experience working with actors and managing the entire cast under Chahine’s leadership. 

 

Nasrallah recalled that Chahine always advised him to respect the boundaries of the actors, which is why Nasrallah never forces an actor to perform in a specific way. “Youssef Chahine told me that every actor has his limits.”

 

 

Tamer Ashry asked Nasrallah about the common elements in some of his most famous—and, at times, controversial— films, such as “Mercedes"; “On Boys, Girls”, “After the Battle”; “Brooks, Meadows and Lovely Faces” Nasrallah responded, saying: «Bassim Samra is the common factor in these films. I first met him during a casting for a film by Youssef Chahine, and then he played a small role in my film Mercedes. After that, we became much closer, especially during the shooting.

 

As he moved to discuss his films, Nasrallah explained that they mirror life, full of characters even those considered secondary. 

 

 

“ I don’t make political movies; you can see political aspects in my films because they are part of our lives.”

 

He pointed out, “My film Mercedes was produced around the same time as the release of Daoud Abdel Sayed’s Kit Kat. Unlike my film, which was shot on the streets, most of Kit Kat was filmed in a studio. Yet, my film was seen as strange, while Kit Kat was hailed as extremely realistic.”

 

 

 

At that moment, the renowned actor Bassam Samra paid tribute to the renowned director Yousry Nasrallah. Samra said during the intermission: “Congratulations on the honor, my teacher and friend. I consider myself lucky to have worked with you on more than one project, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

 

He continued, “I hope to address those responsible for the film industry. We are regressing, especially with the increasing restrictions on films. I hope they will pay attention to us.”

 

Nasrallah responded to Samra’s words, acknowledging that the film industry is indeed «sick,» as he put it. He added that while he is not concerned about filmmakers finding ways to release their films, the real crisis lies in the complex bureaucratic obstacles in film production. He specifically mentioned the challenges of obtaining filming permits and the high costs associated with them.

 

 

Despite challenges, Nasrallah underscored the joy he experiences when making films, even filmmaking is a crazy and extremely difficult task. He added though: “The work must be enjoyable, not just for the director, but for the entire crew. I learned this on the set of Youssef Chahine’s films, which were always filled with beauty. I don’t sympathize with people who talk about the difficulties they faced while making their films. If you don’t enjoy the work, don’t do it.”