Tarek El-Telmissany


Tarek El-Telmissany is one of the most famous cinematographers in Egypt, the Middle East and Africa. Worked as a Director of Photography for documentary films since 1980. A Director of Photography at the National Cinema Center since 1983.
Tarek El-Telmissany has a unique style in lighting which he learned from his professors in "VGIK" The Gerasimov All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography in Russia.
He is also credited as Tariq El Telmesani, Tarek Al Telmissany.

Early life

El-Telmissany was born in Cairo, in a very artistic family.
His uncle was Kamel El-Telmissany was a leading artist. Together with Ramses Younan, Adam Henein, Fouad Kamel and others he was a founder of Art and Liberty in the 1940s. Kamel then ventured into narrative cinema, initially to further propagate the group's brand of surrealism. He soon moved into realist mode, directing the landmark Al-Souq Al-Souda which was banned for almost four years.
His father Hassan, followed Kamel into film, becoming a cinematographer employed by Shell Oil's filmmaking department which produced films about all aspects of Egyptian life – cultural, economic and social. Shell had sent Hassan to train in London and later, when the department shut down, he became an independent documentary filmmaker, producing some 20 films with El-Telmissany's uncle Abdel-Qader. Together they formed a company named El-Telmissany Ekhan for producing many important documentary films.
It was El-Telmissani's mother, a housewife, who first opened his eyes to the world of cinema and filmmaking. She accompanied him to Metro movie theatre to watch children's films and when he was nine brought him to studio Nasbian in Al- Dhaher -- "now it has become a pickle store"—where his uncle was shooting his last film, Al-Nas Eli That, with Youssef Wahbi and Mary Munib

Education

After graduating from Faculty of Languages in 1973 El-Telmissany received a scholarship to study Russian culture and language in the Soviet Union. At the time he had also been accepted by the National Film School in London. He was told by his father: "If you want to learn the art go to Moscow, if you want to be a professional camera operator go to London. And then you can always continue your training with me."
He got Licentiate in Russian language from Faculty of Alsun 1973.
Master's degree in Cinema Photography - VGIK Moscow.

Family

El-Telmissany was married in 1979 to a Russian girl named Galina Noskova during his study in Russia. He has 2 children; both Abeer and Taymoor are engineers.
He is the grandfather of 2 children,.

Career life

He started as a Director of Photography for featured films in 1983, in film Kharaga Wa lam Ya'od-خرج و لم يعد for director Mouhamed Khan. He made over 53-featured films. The last released film was Adrenalin – ادرينالين for director Mahmoud Kamel. He managed directing and photography of more than 30 documentary films and 100 commercials.
He directed 1 film named Dahk Wa Le'ab Wa Gad Wa Hob in 1993.
He has a unique style in lighting which he gained from his professors in Russia. "You're not capturing an image, you're writing it. Touch the celluloid as if you're caressing the woman you most desire. Look through the lens as if it is the last time you see her body; light it as if it is the only way you can embrace her." That's what they told Tarek El-Telmissany in film school, he says.
Because of his European look, he recently featured as an actor in some TV series and some films.
He is one of the pioneers to shoot digital films in Egypt.

Awards

He received many awards for best D.O.P inside and outside of Egypt, from festivals like Cairo International Film Festival, M-NET festival in South Africa, Mediterranean Countries Festival and many other festivals in Morocco, Algeria, the Netherlands, France and other countries. The latest award was in November 2013 in the National Egyptian Film Festival for his total works.

Frequent collaborators

Notable Films

Directed by Mohamed Khan
Directed by: Mouhamed Khan
Directed by: Mouhamed Khan
Directed by: Ahmed Fouad
Directed by: Khairy Bishara
Directed by: Ahmed Fouad
Directed by: Mohamed Nabih
Directed by: Sherif Arafa
Directed by: Beshir El Dik
Directed by: Mouhamed Khan
Directed by: Mohamed Al Nagar
Directed by: Alaa Mahgoub
Directed by: Feisal Al Yasri
Directed by: Mohamed Abu Seif
Directed by: Khairy Bishara
Directed by: Said Marzouk
Directed by: Mouhamed Shebl
Directed by: Karim Diaa El Din
Directed by: Dawood Abd El Sayed
Directed by: Alaa Karim
Directed by: Salah Abou Seif
Directed by: Ali Badrakhan
Directed by: Abd El Latif Zaki
Directed by: Mohamed Elnagar
Directed by: Moumen Smihi
Directed by: Medhat El Sebaii
Directed by: Khairy Bishara
Directed by: Tarek Al Eryan
Directed by: Khairy Bishara
Directed by: Tarek El Telmissany
Directed by: Khairy Bishara
Directed by: Dawood Abd El Sayed
Directed by: Youssef Chahine
Directed by: Karim Gamal El Din
Directed by: Osama Fawzy
Directed by: Radwan Al Kashef
Directed by: Magdy Ahmed Ali
Directed by: Osama Fawzy
Directed by: Inas El Degheidy
Directed by: Mouhamed Khan
Directed by: Said Hamed
Directed by: Osama Fawzy
Directed by: Khairy Bishara
Directed by: Mohamed Khan
Directed by: Mohamed El Nagar
Directed by: Ahmed Saleh
Directed by: Hala Khalil
Directed by: Mahmoud Kamel
Directed by: Oussama Fawzy
As an actor: