Renowned Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Abdel Aziz received a standing ovation at the 46th Cairo International Film Festival, where he was honored with the Golden Pyramid for Lifetime Achievement. The veteran director expressed deep joy and surprise at the warm reception, admitting he did not expect such overwhelming appreciation for his decades-long contribution to cinema.
Abdel Aziz shared his reflections during a masterclass titled “Secrets of Making Comedy”, moderated by critic Osama Abdel Fattah and attended by stars including Laila Elwi, Ilham Shaheen, Hussein Fahmy, Boussy Shalaby, and Labiba.
The masterclass became a heartfelt tribute to one of Egypt’s most influential comedy directors.
He recalled the moment festival president Hussein Fahmy informed him of the honor. “I was truly happy when he told me,” he said.
“I inherited the traditions and discipline that made us love this profession and train generations. It has been a very long journey with hundreds of works, and I was shocked by the audience’s reaction. Maybe I don’t deserve this reception, but thank you for the love and gratitude. This proves the journey wasn’t in vain.”
Abdel Aziz revealed that his path to comedy was entirely unplanned. He began in the world of tragedy, working as an assistant to cinematic icons Salah Abu Seif and Hussein Kamal.
His first feature film, A Woman from Cairo, was a serious work, after which he spent two years without a project, until comedy “came to him” unexpectedly.
His breakout came with the hit film In the Summer, We Must Fall in Love, which featured a large ensemble cast and achieved both commercial and critical success.
The warm welcome from critics encouraged him to explore comedy further, where he found greater depth than many expected.
He described comedy as a powerful tool for exposing social behaviors with intelligence and precision. “Comedy is more serious and decisive than tragedy,” he said.
“Tragedy deals with personal stories, but comedy addresses society. That gives it weight and responsibility.”
He added that real comedic success depends on meaningful content, not exaggeration, and that laughter should be a natural result of the message, not the primary aim.
The director spoke candidly about the challenges of working with comedic actors, noting that a single missed moment can disrupt an entire scene.
For him, maintaining control, timing, and discipline was essential.
He shared memories of collaborating with the beloved comedian Abdel Moneim Madbouly, who once offered to wear his jacket inside out to enhance a scene’s humor.
Abdel Aziz refused, insisting that the message was what mattered, and that genuine laughter comes only from truth.
He also reflected on his long-standing partnership with the legendary Adel Emam, one of the most successful actor–director collaborations in Arab cinema.
Their work began when Abdel Aziz, then an assistant director, brought Emam to appear in Good Night, marking his first time in front of a camera.
Their collaboration eventually grew into 18 films, including some of Egypt’s most iconic comedies.
According to Abdel Aziz, their success stemmed from mutual trust, long discussions, and Emam’s commitment to never deviating from the script’s context.
Abdel Aziz shared a humorous story about the late Samir Ghanem, who initially refused a cameo in Kids of Kids because it was a single-scene role.
Abdel Aziz convinced him by promising a comedic chase involving several children. On set, the scene was so funny that actor Rushdy Abaza fell to the ground laughing, and they had to reshoot multiple times.
The moment is now considered one of Ghanem’s most memorable screen appearances.
One of the masterclass’s most emotional moments came from actress Lobna “Lebleba”, who delivered a heartfelt tribute to Abdel Aziz, calling him her “great teacher” and crediting him with launching her major career milestones.
She recalled being introduced to him by the late Magda El Khatib, who described her as “the new little Shadia.”
Abdel Aziz cast her in In the Summer, We Must Fall in Love and later taught her the foundations of honest, non-exaggerated comedic acting. She thanked him for trusting her with her first leading role in Watch Out for Your Neighbors, a decision she said changed her life.
In another revelation, Abdel Aziz stated that his son, star Karim Abdel Aziz, hopes to revive the classic film Vote for Dr. Soleiman, with intentions to reinterpret Adel Emam’s original role in a modernized version.
Discussions have already begun with director Marwan Hamed to explore how the project could be reimagined for today’s audience.
As the Cairo International Film Festival continues to honor giants of the industry, Mohamed Abdel Aziz’s tribute stands out as a celebration of craft, legacy, mentorship, and the power of comedy as a mirror to society.
His words and the overwhelming admiration of the audience affirm his place as one of the great architects of Egyptian cinematic humor.
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