Ibrahim El Batout

Ibrahim El Batout (Arabic: إبراهيم البطوط) 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 (2003), and has received the Axel Springer Award in Germany (1994 and 2000). As well as that his drama Ein Shams took home the Golden Bull, the top prize at the 54th Taormina Film Festival, 2008. Script Tamer El Said and Ibrahim El Batout Cast Hanan Youssef, Boutros Boutros Ghaly, Ramadan Khater, Hanan Adel, Samar Abdelwahab, Mariam Abodouma 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. 1998 The Beginning of the War in Kosovo (ZDF) 1999 Nagib Mahfouz: Passage du siecle (ARTE) 2000 A Day of an Ambulance Driver in Ramalla, Palestine (ZDF) 2001 Three German Women Living in Gaza (WDR Germany) 2001 The River that Connects Future EC Countries (ZDF) 2006 26 Seconds in Pakistan (Islamic Relief Foundation) 2007 I am a Refugee in Cairo (Al Jazeera International)