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Five Oscars Moments When the Spotlight Was on Egyptians
With the 97th Academy Awards on its way, let’s look back at some Oscars moments that you may not know were powered by Egyptians…
Mar 01, 2025
With the 97th Academy Awards around the corner, everyone is waiting to find out which films, actors and directors will win the prestigious Oscar and which will fall short. Of course, it’s not just about the films - the Oscars are also a stage for technological innovation and high fashion, a veritable cultural battlefield in which matters of representation are contested in Western media.
Hollywood’s dominance of global cinema has often made recognition of non-Western films, actors and directors a politically charged moment. The Best International Feature Film category, though significant, offers only a limited space for global cinema to gain prominence. Despite being esteemed as the Arab world’s leading film producer, Egyptian cinema never seems to receive the recognition it deserves at the Academy Awards.
Whilst the recognition of Egyptian cinematographers, actors, directors and designers has been historically sporadic at the Oscars, let's give the spotlight to the many Egyptians who have left their mark on the Academy Awards in front of and behind the camera…
1959: Youssef Chahine’s ‘Cairo Station’ is the first Egyptian film submitted as a nominee for an Oscar
The history of Egyptian participation in the Oscars began in 1958 with Youssef Chahine's ‘Cairo Station’. After competing in the 8th Berlin International Film Festival, this crime drama was selected as Egypt's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 31st Academy Awards in 1959. Although it was not accepted as a nominee, ‘Cairo Station’ holds the distinction of being the first Egyptian and Arab film submitted to the previously Western-dominated awards. Chahine’s film delves into issues at the core of Egyptian society at the time, depicting a controversial yet accurate portrayal of the urban working class at the time, and offering a glimpse into Egypt’s shifting ideological landscape. Chahine both directed the film and played its mad protagonist, the newsstand owner Qinawai.
1963: Omar Sharif is the first Egyptian to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’
In 1963, at the 35th Academy Awards, Omar Sharif became the first Egyptian to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sherif Ali in David Lean’s ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. Despite falling just short of winning the award, his flirtation with an Oscar coined him the status of the first Arab to ‘conquer’ Hollywood, as his talents caught the attention of a predominantly Western panel of judges.
Perhaps the complexity of Omar Sharif’s character in the film is what made his performance so poignant. Sherif Ali is a warrior, deeply committed to his tribe, as well as an intellectual and strategic thinker. He ultimately emerged as a character that challenged the simplifications and generalisations of Arab roles in cinema at the time. The film as a whole, and Omar Sharif’s esteemed performance in it, invites reflection on the history of the (mis)representation of Arabs in cinema.
1969: Fouad Saïd is awarded the Scientific Award for his invention of the Cinemobile
The 42nd Academy Awards in 1969 saw another moment when an Egyptian was recognised for outstanding cinematic contribution, this time, from behind the screen. Fouad Saïd, an Egyptian-American producer, cinematographer and filmmaker, received the Scientific Award for developing the ‘Cinemobile’ which revolutionised filmmaking at the time. The cinemobile is a van-like vehicle that facilitated the transport of filming equipment on location shoots, making location-shooting faster, more efficient and cheaper. As well as receiving an Academy Award for his contribution to the cinema industry, he also received an Egyptian Order of Merit Award. Saïd’s cinemobile left a lasting legacy in the industry at a time when it was struggling with ballooning costs, and continues to influence how films and TV shows are produced on location.
2016: Farida Temraz’s designs dazzle at Oscars events
2016 saw another Egyptian-powered Oscars moment from behind the camera when Egyptian designer, Farida Temraz, showcased her designs at Oscars events. Her brand, Temraza, produces designs incorporating Egyptian heritage with contemporary aesthetics.
Temraza dresses were worn in 2016 by Iranian actress Temi Panosian at the 24th Annual Elton John AIDs Foundation viewing party, Australian ballroom dancer Sharna Burgess at the Vanity Fair Oscars party, and Morgan Stewart as she hosted the E! Oscars after party special. Since then, her designs have continued to turn heads at the Oscars, having dressed multiple celebrities and public figures.
As well as gracing the Oscars and global fashion events with her designs throughout her career, Farida Temraz has also played an important role in returning Egypt to the global fashion map, having released her book ‘Fashion Branding and Social Media: A Practical Guide’, the first fashion book of its kind in the Middle East.
2019: Rami Malek Wins Best Actor for his Performance in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
The 91st Academy Awards in 2019 saw the first actor of Egyptian and Arab heritage take the Best Actor award, as Rami Malek was recognised for his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Malek was born in Los Angeles in 1981 to Egyptian parents who moved to the US from Cairo in 1978. His background as a first generation immigrant, and experience reconciling both parts of a hyphenated identity, allowed him to connect to the role of Freddie Mercury, whose family immigrated to the UK from Zanzibar. Since receiving his Oscar, he has spoken proudly of his heritage in many interviews, most notably stressing that “being Egyptian is in the fibre of my DNA” on the Jimmy Fallon show.
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