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The first stone of the Studio Cinematographique Nahas
Films was laid on the 22 December 1946 on a land in Guiza, Cairo,
near the Pyramides on an area of three acres. It was a joint
venture between Mr Gabriel Nahas,
Mr Youssef Wahby
and Mr Antoine Khoury. The architect was Mr Henri Oghia and
the building contractor was J. Vidon & J. Liverant. Electrical
equipments were done by Western Electric. The inauguration ceremony regrouped
Mr Gabriel Nahas and his wife as well as Mr and Mrs Youssef Wahby and
all family, friends and collaborators to the project.
Together
with Studio Misr, Studio Nahas was one of the most pretigious
Studios in Egypt and received the visit of famous director such as Abel Gance and Cecil B. DeMille.
It was in full production until 1963 when it was nationalized and the
owner Mr Gabriel Nahas died of a heart attack. It has be used by
many Egyptian productions company including the one created and
owned by Gabriel Nahas : "Nahas Films" company. The production company started its production
in "Studio Nahas" with " Al
Hob La Yamout" (Love does not die) starring Rakia Ibrahim
and Abbas Fares
and directed by one of Egypt's first and best directors:
Mohammed Karim.
Shortly after this film,the company produced a set of films written
by Youssef Wahby such as: "Aris min Istanbul"
(A Suitor from Istanbul),"Awlad el foukara" (Children of the Poor),"Safir
gohanam" (Ambassador of Hell). Click
here for the complete list of Nahas Films production
It is to be mentioned that -"Baba
Areess (1950) "( Father Wants a Wife) is the first Egyptian film in color. The process used was a French color process called RouxColor
invented in 1947 by the Roux brothers. The film was shot in Studio
Nahas. Even after the death of Gabriel Nahas and the nationalization of
the Studio, it has been widely used for famous production such as
well known films such as : "Oh Islam", a coproduction Egypt-Italy, the Egyptian version of The Count Of Monte Christo: "Amir
el dahaa" (The Crafty one) and Oum Kalthoum operette "Rabaa El Adawia".
Current Status
Studio Nahas has been nationalized in 1963 by the Egyptian
Governement as part of the socialist wave under Gamal Abdel Nasser
without giving any indemnities to the owners: The Gabriel Nahas
Family, Antoine Khoury Family and Youssef Wahby family. M. Gabriel
Nahas passed away on the 24th may 1963.
Since then, the Studio has its name changed to Studio El Nil, and
illegaly developed by the Egyptian Governement and incorportated in
what they call " The Cinema City". For an unknown reason, it
regained later its original and historicallly famous name: "
Studio Nahas". It was incorporated in what is called today
"Cinema City".
Present facilities as described by the company.
In Cinema City, three stages are available,
the first is Studio Nahas stage. The studio is built in 1948
on an area of 770 sq/m.
In 1948, Gabriel Nehmat Nahas, Antony Khoury and Youssef Wahby,
founded a solidarity corporation and established studio Al Nil
( Ex Nahas ) on an area of three acres.
Nile Studio Location & Facilities
A narrow st. nearly 500 sq. m. is available for exterior scenery
construction.
The sound section includes a theater of area 185 sq. m. and a
mixing theater.
Nahas Building
A store of cinematographic equipment and the cameras Arriflex
35 mm, aodel IIC, ventens, camera cranes, dollies, and the most
modern camera B.L 4S.
Facilities provide full production services for approx. ten feature
films yearly as well as T.V. films and series and short films.
Nile Studio Plateaus Description
Studio Al Nile has its individual character, perhaps with its
sole stage which it gives such sensation of privacy to whom they
are shooted here like " Days of Wrath " ( Ayyam El
Ghadab ) by Mounir Rady designed by Adel Al Magraby 1989, "
The citizen Masri " ( El Muwaten Masri ) by Salah Abou Seif
designed by Ibrahim sayed Ahmed 1991, " El Mansy" by
Sherif Arafa designed by Rochdi Hamed 1993, "Nasser 56"
by Mohammed Fadel 1996 designed by Nabil Selim.
Nile Studio Workshop
The scenery setting workshop include carpentry, Gypsum, turnery
and upholstery sections, and a store for all scenery setting
materials.
Nile Studio Development Projects
Providing the projection theatre with two projectors of 70 mm
and 35/16 mm single or double systems.
A new audio mixer and digital multi track recorders.
Preparing stage No. 2 to be ready, where the field needs urgently
many stages for the numerous productions of films and video.
Stages will be provided with an electronic lighting equipment.
Supplying the stage with four Betacam video Camera attached with
recording equipment, and video editing section.
The stage is equipped with 11 stars
rooms, hair dressing
and make up room air-conditionned. Also carpentry and upholstry
workshops.
They are surrounded by gardens and vast areas, being suitable
for exterior shooting, also streets available to be used in Action
films. |