During the Alexandrian Heritage Days: 5 Films and 43 Photos Reflecting the City's History and Charm Caffeine Art News

For the 15th consecutive year, the Alexandria Center for Mediterranean Studies organizes the "Alexandrian Heritage Days" exhibition and activities, with the participation of institutions, artists, and young talents from Alexandria, in collaboration with the French Cultural Center and the Italian Consulate in the city.

The Italian Consulate hosts the results of the workshop "Cinema and Art for Development Initiative," showcasing a photography exhibition and screenings of five documentary films addressing themes related to both historic and contemporary Alexandria. These films and photographs were created by the 14 young trainees of the workshop, many of whom had no prior experience in professional photography or mobile cinematography, which was the technique used for filming all the movies.

Speaking about the workshop and the initiative’s participation, screenwriter Ahmed El-Messiri, founder of the initiative and one of its trainers, explained that the goal of utilizing mobile phone cameras in photography and cinematography is to employ alternative, cost-effective methods for producing films and photos that are close in quality and substance to more expensive and complex cinematic productions, which often require extensive permits and budgets that most creators cannot afford. He added that the workshop commenced two months prior to the Heritage Days and lasted for fourteen days, covering training in film shooting, lighting techniques, screenplay writing, editing, and sound. The trainers included Ahmed El-Messiri, cinematographer Joseph Karam, editor Hesham Sami, sound engineer Islam El-Bastawi, and director Waheed Sobhy.

The workshop led to the creation of five documentary films, including: Racoda by Mohamed El-Sahey and Shahenda Saleh; Where is the Lighthouse? featuring the efforts of Youssef Raslan, Nada Hamad, Sahar El-Masry, and Yara Wael; Light from the Past by Rowan Ahmed, Nesma Mahmoud, Shahenda Saleh, Salma El-Fayrouzi, and Nagham Essam; Between the Shores of Time by Caroline Raphael, Mariam Mohamed, and Neira Wael; and Documenting the Documentation, directed by Nada Ahmed, Sohair El-Masry, and Youssef Raslan, who also undertook editing.

The films collectively shed light on significant aspects of the history of Alexandria, particularly during the reign of Alexander the Great and his successors, with a special focus on Ptolemy I and II, the former as the actual founder of the city and the latter as the initiator of the historic lighthouse. The films also touched on modern lighthouses, featuring interviews with residents from areas like El-Maks and experts such as Dr. Mohamed El-Dessouki, a history professor at Alexandria University, and Dr. Dina Abdel Salam, Director of the Alexandria Creativity Center, a historic building that once hosted Lumière Brothers’ films when it served as the renowned Tosson Stock Exchange before evolving into a hub for creativity.

The films also delved into the cinematic history of Alexandria, incorporating clips from popular old Egyptian films shot in the cosmopolitan city. The youth sought the perspective of an Armenian local interested in the history of cinema and its connection to Alexandria.

Additionally, the Alexandrian Heritage Days foster collaboration and networking between various artistic and cultural institutions that provide essential support for the success of projects by artists and numerous initiatives. It is noteworthy that since its founding, the Alexandria Center for Mediterranean Studies has contributed to countless cultural and scholarly activities, including publishing books documenting the city's modern heritage buildings, chronicling newly discovered land and underwater artifacts, and working with governmental bodies to preserve the unique identity of contemporary Alexandria, offering consultative support to the governorate's administration.