Khaberni - The great Egyptian film director Daoud Abdel Sayed passed away a short while ago at the age of 80, after a struggle with illness in the recent period.
His wife, journalist Karima Kamal announced the news on her "Facebook" account with moving words, saying, "Today, my dearest husband and love, Daoud Abdel Sayed, has passed."
Daoud Abdel Sayed is formally mourned
The Actors Syndicate, led by the artist Ashraf Zaki and the board members, mourned the great director Daoud Abdel Sayed, confirming that his departure represents a significant loss for both Egyptian and Arab cinema, after an exceptional artistic career during which he presented timeless works that left a clear intellectual and humanitarian imprint.
The syndicate, in its official statement, expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and his fans, and to the entire artistic and cultural community, praying to God to envelope him in His vast mercy, rest him in his spacious gardens, and grant his family and loved ones patience and solace.
Before the death of Daoud Abdel Sayed: A Career Full of Creativity
Daoud Abdel Sayed was born in Cairo on November 23, 1946, and he graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the Higher Institute of Cinema, Directing Department in 1967. He started his professional life as an assistant director in prominent films such as "Al-Ard" by Youssef Chahine and "The Man Who Lost His Shadow" by Kamal El Sheikh, and "Illusions of Love" by Mamdouh Shukri, before deciding to stop working as an assistant due to his feeling that he could only focus on issues that concern him.
With the beginning of his career as a director and screenwriter, Abdel Sayed established a special place for himself in Egyptian cinema. He participated in the founding of the New Cinema Group and the Union of Documentary Filmmakers, and served on cinema committees at the Supreme Council of Culture and festivals.
Diverse Films Between Documentary and Feature
Daoud Abdel Sayed presented a number of notable documentary films, such as "The Will of a Wise Man on Village and Education Affairs," "Working in the Field," and "About People, Prophets, and Artists," which contributed to enhancing his understanding of Egyptian society across all its layers.
In feature cinema, he presented works like "The Stragglers," which won the First Work Award at the Aswan Academic Festival, and "The Search for Sayed Marzouq," which won the Silver Pyramid at the Cairo Film Festival, and "The Kit Kat," which won several awards including the Gold Award at the Damascus Festival, and "Land of Fear," and "Citizen, Detective, and Thief," and "Messages of the Sea," and "Extraordinary Abilities," marking these works as significant milestones in the history of Egyptian cinema.
Awards and Honors for Daoud Abdel Sayed
Daoud Abdel Sayed won the State Awards for Excellence in Arts in 2004, and the State Appreciation Award in 2012, in addition to honors from the Cinematographic Professions Syndicate, the Egyptian Association for Community Engagement, and numerous Arab and international festivals.
Three of his films have been included in the list of the top 100 Arab films released by the Dubai International Film Festival in 2013, which are Kit Kat 1991, Land of Fear 1999, and Messages of the Sea 2010, confirming his status as one of the pillars of cinema in Egypt and the region.
