The ninth annual Algerian Oran Arab Film Festival celebrates Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine with a section titled ‘Youssef Chahine: A love story between Egypt and Algeria.’

The section highlights 40 years since the release of Chahine’s film Awdet El-Ibn El-Dal (Return of the Prodigal Son, 1976).

The festival’s website spotlighted the Egyptian- Algerian produced film, dubbing it as was one of the best films for the renowned Egyptian director, and among the all time top 100 films in the history of Egyptian cinema.

The film’s screenplay is co-written by songwriter Salah Jahin, who also wrote the score, as it encapsulates the thoughts of Jaheen towards president Gamal Abdel Nasser, the revolution, the 1967 defeat and then the triumph in 1973.

A musical melodrama, the story is about Ali, an activist who is released after many years in prison and who returns home, shaking up established relationships among his family members at the farm governed by his strict father.

It is one of the most important cinematic works of songwriter, caricaturist and actor Salah Jaheen. It featured the Algerian actor Sid Ali Kouiret, alongside Egyptian stars Shokry Sarhan, Mahmoud El-Meligy, Hoda Sultan and Lebanese soprano Majida El-Roumi.

The ninth Oran Arab Film Festival will run between 20 and 27 July, screening a variety of films, features, shorts and documentaries from filmmakers representing 17 Arab countries. 34 films are listed in the main competition, with 12 feature films, 12 Algerian short films, and 10 documentary works.

Commemorating the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, the festival will also screen three film adaptations of the Bard's plays.

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