Directed by Philippe Dib and Wael Omar, In Search of Oil and Sand (2012) goes back to the time of Egypt’s former King Farouk, with footage from a long-lost and destroyed film titled Oil and Sand.

The original film Oil and Sand was created by the members of Egypt’s royal family, who themselves appear in the film, at the time shortly before the coup of 1952.

With Oil and Sand’s copies destroyed, In Search of Oil and Sand, the documentary, is an effort to rediscover and archive this part of Egypt’s history. It follows Mahmoud Sabet, Egyptian historian and the son of King Farouk’s cousin, who takes it upon himself to reconstruct the original film with the footage that was still saved.

The screening will take place on 29 March and will be followed by a Q&A session with the director Wael Omar.

In Search of Oil and Sand won the Best Directors award at the Abu Dhabi film festival in 2012.

The documentary is the last film to be screened as part of NVIC’s Nostalgia Lecture and Film Program, which in partnership with the Italian Institute in Cairo, has been screening old films and relevant lectures weekly since January 15.

Programme:
Sunday 29 March 7.30 pm
Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo, 1 Dr. Mahmoud Azmi street, Zamalek, Cairo