Origins & Early Life

Youssef Chahine (Arabic: يوسف شاهين [ˈjuːsɪf ʃæˈhiːn]; 25 January 1926 – 27 July 2008) was an Egyptian film director. He was active in the Egyptian film industry from 1950 until his death in 2008. He directed twelve films included in a list of Top 100 Egyptian films published by the Cairo International Film Festival. As a winner of the Cannes 50th Anniversary Award (for lifetime achievement), Chahine was credited with launching the career of actor Omar Sharif.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A well-regarded director with critics, he was often present at film festivals during the earlier decades of his work. Chahine gained his largest international audience as one of the co-directors of 11'9"01 September 11 (2002). Chahine (Fr. pronounced Shaaheen) was born in Alexandria, Egypt to a Melkite Greek Catholic family. His father was an attorney originally from Zahle, Lebanon and was a supporter of the Egyptian nationalist Wafd Party.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

His mother, Claire Bastorous was of Greek descent. She worked as a tailor. Although Chahine was raised Catholic, he was not a believer in organized religion. If asked of his religion, he would state, "Egyptian". At home, the Chahines spoke five languages, which...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdus Salam — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Alfredo Di Stéfano — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Argentine and Spanish legend, 'The Blond Arrow,' pivotal to Real Madrid's golden era.
• Allen Ginsberg — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering American poet, central figure of the Beat Generation, known for 'Howl'.
• Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — Contemporary (Died in 2008) (2008): Dissident author who exposed Soviet repression, notably the Gulag system.
• Arthur C. Clarke — Contemporary (Died in 2008) (2008): Pioneering science fiction writer, futurist, and popularizer of space travel.
• Bo Diddley — Contemporary (Died in 2008) (2008): Pioneering blues guitarist whose signature rhythm influenced rock, pop, and hip-hop.
• Al Capone — Shared historical date (01-25 · Died) (1947): Notorious American gangster and businessman during the Prohibition era.
• Alicia Keys — Shared historical date (01-25 · Born) (1981): Award-winning pianist and vocalist known for her soulful R&B sound.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Shared historical date (07-27 · Died) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Alex Rodriguez — Shared historical date (07-27 · Born) (1975): Legendary baseball player and businessman, known as "A-Rod"
• 1926 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1926
• January 25 (01-25) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 25
• 2008 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2008
• July 27 (07-27) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 27