An Indomitable Journey Suddenly Stopped.. The Departure of Director Ahmed Atef Dura

SadaNews - The Egyptian Film Professions Syndicate mourned the director and critic Ahmed Atef Dura, who passed away today, Tuesday, after an artistic career during which he left behind a number of remarkable works since his beginnings at the turn of the new millennium.

The syndicate stated, via its official Facebook page, in its mourning statement: "The Film Professions Syndicate mourns the director and artistic critic Ahmed Atef, expressing heartfelt condolences and sympathy, praying for mercy and forgiveness for him, and patience and solace for his family."

Farewell from Friends

A number of artists and filmmakers also mourned the deceased through their social media accounts, expressing their sorrow for his departure and recalling his career and works in posts that contained words of eulogy and sympathy.

Actress Hanan Motawei wrote on her official Facebook account: "Sad news, may God have mercy on you and make your resting place in paradise."

Cultural critic Tarek El Shennawy bid farewell, confirming that his death came after a struggle with illness, noting that a friendship bond existed between them for nearly 20 years, during which they frequently met at the Cannes Film Festival.

He added that the late director faced many challenges to bring his films to light, including "The Jungle" and "Omar 2000", pointing out that his latest work was showcased in the Cannes Festival market, concluding his words with: "Goodbye, my dear friend."

Actress Naglaa Badr also prayed for mercy and forgiveness for him, while actor Tamer Abdel Moneim expressed his sadness over the loss of his friend.

A Diverse Career

Throughout a career that began at the start of the millennium, Ahmed Atef Dura left a diverse mark in directing, critical writing, and literary creation, alongside his books and novels. According to local websites, he received nearly 38 awards at both local and international levels.

In documentary cinema, he presented several films, including: "Mada Mada", "Sparis", and "The Time Machine".

From "Omar 2000" to "Before Spring"

In commercial cinema, he worked as an assistant director in the late 1990s in the film "The Nutcracker", before presenting his first feature film, "Omar 2000", starring Khaled Al Nabawi, followed by the film "How to Make Girls Love You" starring Hani Salama and Nour, the film "The Jungle" and "Bab Sharqi".

He also presented the film "Before Spring", which addressed the January 25, 2011 revolution and the ramifications of the Arab Spring.

His last directorial participation was in the drama series "Statat Qadra" in 2016, starring Abir Sabry.