Samir Farid Collection
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Abstract
The Samir Farid Collection consists of over 3000 images from Egypt bought from various photographic studios and individual photographers and their private collections. The negatives include images from 265 Egyptian films produced between 1937-1988. Samir Farid (December 1, 1943 – April 4, 2017) was an Egyptian writer and a world renowned film critic, journalist and film historian based in Cairo. He authored and/or translated over 60 books since 1966 on Egyptian, Arab and World cinema. He was the consultant for Cinema Affairs in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. (2001-2016). He was a jury member of in a number of international film festivals since 1972. (Among them Oberhausen Film Festival 1978, DOC Leipzig Film festival 1984, Annecy International Animated Film Festival 1998, Torino Film Festival 2001, Controcorrente (Upstream section) of Venice Film Festival 2003, Thessaloniki Film Festival 2003 and Taormina Film Festival 2010.) He also was the Head of The Cairo International Film Festival 2014.
Biography
Samir Farid (December 1, 1943 – April 4, 2017) was an Egyptian writer and a world renowned film critic, journalist and film historian based in Cairo. He authored and/or translated over 60 books since 1966 on Egyptian, Arab and World cinema. He was the consultant for Cinema affairs in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. (2001-2016).
He was a member of jury in International film festivals since 1972. (Among them Oberhausen Film Festival 1978, DOC Leipzig Film festival 1984, Annecy International Animated Film Festival 1998, Torino Film Festival 2001, Controcorrente (Upstream section) of Venice Film Festival 2003,[1] Thessaloniki Film Festival 2003 and Taormina Film Festival 2010.)
He also was the Head of The Cairo International Film Festival 2014.
Arrangement
The Samir Farid Collection was received in non-archival business envelopes, many with glassine windows that had been damaged by the decomposition of the negatives held within. The negatives were rehoused in four-flap negative glass plate folders, and the information written in english on each envelope was transferred to the new folders. In addition, a folder from each film series was retained with the original arabic handwriting text for later translation.
No documentation was received with reference to the numerical cataloguing system on the original envelopes, and no order could be found that corresponded with any of the known features of the negatives or the films they represented.
Once identified and accurately dated, the negatives were re-ordered according to year, and alphabetically by title within each year.
Scope and Contents
The Samir Farid Collection consists of over 3,300 photo negatives taken on the sets of egyptian films between 1937 and 1987. The original contexts of the photographs are unknown, but given the composition and subject matter, it can be inferred that the photographs were intended for publicity for the films, actors appearing in the films, and perhaps subjects for cinema posters.
The images include both 'black and white' and 'color' images shot on a variety of film formats. Film brands identified include Kodak Gravure Copy, Kodak Safety, Kodak Panchro Press, Kodak Super XX, Agfa Safety, Ansco Safety Isopan, Ansco Commercial Orthochromatic, Gevaert Safety, Gevaert Panochromatic, Ferrania, and Orwo.
The photographs were shot on the sets in the midst of filming, or between scenes, therefore some of the images are documentary and others posed. It would appear that few if any are candid images. Most photographs are of actors appearing in the films, most notably Omar Sharif, Shadia, Ismail Yasin, Kamal El Shennawy, Mahmoud El Meleigy, Serag Mounir, Samia Gamal, Taheyya Kariokka, Wedad Hamdy, Hussein Riad, Hagar Hamdy, Farid Shawqi, Amina Rizk, Abdelsalam El Nabolsi, and Ahmed Allam.
Some images can be identified as having been taken during filming scenes in the final cut of the film, as precise context can be identified when comparing the photographs to the films themselves. In other cases, the photographs were taken during filming shots that were not used in the final version of the film or were posed in a tableau vivant.
A complete list of all film titles included in the collection, along with directors and release year (in Arabic and English), can be viewed at akkasah.org: https://akkasah.org/wp-content/uploads/SF-Film-List.pdf
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Conditions Governing Access
Access to original negatives restricted to Akkasah/NYUADSC staff. Materials are fragile and potential for damage from handling is high.
Conditions Governing Use
NYU Abu Dhabi holds all copyright and related rights pertaining to this collection. Please contact Akkasah at akkasah@nyu.edu for information regarding information and use.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Samir Farid Collection; AD_MC_011; box number; folder number or item identifier; Akkasah Center for Photography, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Samir Farid Collection was purchased directly from the film scholar Samir Farid in November of 2015.
Samir Farid Collection description
The Samir Farid Collection from Egypt consists of over 3000 bought from various photographic studios and individual photographers and their private collections. The negatives include images from 265 Egyptian films produced between 1937-1988.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Materials were placed in new acid-free folders and boxes. Original caption information, when available, was transcribed onto negative sleeves. Translations of Arabic script on evelope (film titles) by students. Where English-language film names could be verified at IMDb or El Cinema, that name is used. In cases of titles without verified translations, student translation(s) are used. Nitrate negatives in the collection were identified, digitized, and discarded due to the fire hazard that such materials pose.
Processing Information
615 images published online at akkasah.org, remaining negatives currently undergoing digitization.