Hasan El-Saifi

Hasan El-Saifi (حسن الصيفي; 1927–2005) was an Egyptian film director, film producer, and screenplay writer. He worked on nearly 150 Egyptian films. He has various name spellings in English due to transliteration, most commonly Hassan el-Saifi, Hassan El-Seify, and Hassan al-Saifi.

Biography
Hasan El-Saifi was born on January 13, 1927, in Cairo, Kingdom of Egypt.

El-Saifi started his career in film in 1946, by working as an assistant director under Helmy Rafla, and Anwar Wagdi. By 1952, El-Saifi was able to establish his own film production company. His first directed film was named, Bear Witness, People (released 20 April 1953 in Egypt). His most notable film he directed was Samara (1956), starring Taheyya Kariokka and Mohsen Sarhan.

In the 1970s, he moved to Lebanon (an area later known as Syria) for a few years, where he directed several films.

He died on March 25, 2005, in Cairo, after suffering from a heart attack.

Personal life and family
In the 1950s he was married to Egyptian-born Greek actress and dancer (sometimes known as Katie Voutsakis, Kitty or Keti), which ended in divorce. He later married Egyptian actress Zahret El-Ola, a second marriage for both of them. Together with Zahret El-Ola they had two children, their daughter Manal El-Saifi is a film director. Both of his wives starred in his films.

Filmography

 * Bear Witness, People (1953; اشهدوا يا ناس), as director
 * Lady Pickpocket (1953; نشالة هانم), as director
 * Injustice Is Forbidden (1954; الظلم حرام), as director, and screenplay writer
 * Samara (1956; سمارة), as director
 *  (1956; زنوبة), as director
 *  (توحة), as director
 * The Poor Millionaire (1959; المليونير الفقير), as director
 * Ismail Yassine in Prison (1961; Ismail Yassine Fi El Segn), as director
 * The Judge of Love (1962), as director
 * The Comic Society for Killing Wives (1962; جمعية قتل الزوجات الهزلية), as director
 * The Black Suitcase (1962; الحقيبة السوداء), as director
 * King of Petroleum (1962; ملك البترول), as director
 * Fugitive from Marriage (1964; هارب من الزواج)
 *  (1964) (بنت الحتة), as director
 * The Two Friends (1970; الصديقان), as director, and screenplay writer
 * Forbidden on Wedding Night (1974; ممنوع في ليلة الدخلة)
 * Hadi Badi (1984; حادي بادي), as director
 * Love and Fate (1995; الحب نصيب), as director