Ibrahim El Batout


Ibrahim El Batout is an Egyptian filmmaker, based in Cairo, Egypt. Born in Port Said on 20 September 1963.
He has worked as a director, producer and cameraman capturing stories mainly about human loss, suffering, and displacement since 1987. He has directed numerous documentaries for international TV channels, such as ZDF, TBS, and ARTE. His documentary work has been honored by the Rory Peck Trust, and has received the Axel Springer Award in Germany. As well as that his drama Ein Shams took home the Golden Bull, the top prize at the 54th Taormina Film Festival, 2008.

Ein Shams (The Eye of the Sun)

Script Tamer El Said and Ibrahim El BatoutCamera Hesham Farouk IbrahimEditor Ahmed AbdalahMusic Amir KhalafSound Mohab Mostafa EzzArt Director Shaima AzizProduction and Sales Sherif MandourCast Hanan Youssef, Boutros Boutros Ghaly, Ramadan Khater, Hanan Adel, Samar Abdelwahab, Mariam Abodouma
Synopsis
From once being the capital of Egypt during the Pharaonic era and a sacred location marked by the visit of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, Ein Shams has become one of Cairo's poorest and most neglected neighbourhoods. Through the eyes of Shams, an eleven-year-old girl inhabitant of this neighborhood, the film captures the sadness and magic that envelops everyday life in Egypt. In a series of heart-rending events, the diverse characters of the film showcase the intricacies of Egypt's political system and social structure, and give a glimpse into the grievances of the Middle East region and the complex relationships of its nations.

Feature films

2005 Ithaki 2008 Ein Shams, The Eye of the Sun 2010 Hawi

Selected documentaries

1996 Slavery in Southern Sudan 1998 The Beginning of the War in Kosovo '1999 The War in Kosovo '1999 Nagib Mahfouz: Passage du siecle '2000 A Day of an Ambulance Driver in Ramalla, Palestine '2001 Three German Women Living in Gaza '2001 The River that Connects Future EC Countries '2002 Pilgrimage to Mecca '2002 Drug Addiction in Kuwait '2003 Mass Graves in Iraq '2004 Baghdad '2006 26 Seconds in Pakistan '2007''' I am a Refugee in Cairo ''''

Awards and honors

1991:Honorary Award TBS for the coverage of the first Gulf War1994 Axel Springer Award for Female Circumcision in Ethiopia1996 ECHO for The Victim of a War that Ended2000 Axel Springer Award for A Day of an Ambulance Driver in Ramalla2003 Rory Peck Sony International Impact Award Finalist for Mass Graves in Iraq2008 The Golden Tauro at the Taormina Film Festival for Ein Shams2008 The Best First Film Award in Rotterdam Arab Film Festival for Ein Shams2008 Special Jury Mention in Cathage International film Festival For Ein Shams