Prominent Egyptian neorealist filmmaker Mohamed Khan died on Tuesday morning in Cairo at 73, after an unexpected health crisis.
"Director mohamad khan died today, may his soul rest in peace," Egyptian cinematographer Said Shimi wrote on Facebook.
Khan was recognized as one of Egypt's most significant directors. His films were characterized by their efforts to address social issues, often focusing on central female characters. Some of his most well-known works include "El Harreef" (The Street Player) 1984, "Zawgat Ragol Mohem" (The Wife of an Important Man) 1987 and "Ahlam Hind wa Camilia" (Dreams of Hind and Camilia) 1988.
Born to an Egyptian mother and a Pakistani father, Khan studied in the United Kingdom before returning to Egypt to launch his filmmaking career. Due to his Pakistani father, Khan did not actually possess Egyptian nationality until 2014, when he was granted citizenship by presidential decree.
Kahn's most recent film, "Before the Summer Crowds," premiered in Egypt at the 5th Luxor African Film Festival in March. The film satirized Egyptian society through the story of four neighbors exploring the complicated world of relationships in a seaside resort on Egypt’s North Coast.
Although his films often examined deep societal issues, Kahn classified himself as an "observer" not a judge.
"I don’t think I am qualified enough as a social examiner of any class of Egyptian society, I would rather be considered just an observer not a judge," he told StepFeed in an interview about his most recent film.