For the first time ever, a compilation of the 16mm home movies taken by famous Armenian photographer Leon Boyadjian, a.k.a Van-Leo (1921 - 2002) and his brother in the mid 1940s will be screened in Cimatheque -Alternative Film Centre.

Van-Leo ran two studios in Downtown Cairo for more than half a century, where he photographed thousands of Cairenes, expats and soldiers from the colonial interwar period. He specialized in black and white portraiture, particularly of celebrities. And, upon request, he produced hand-tinted images of select photos; one of the many stylistic flourishes for which he is famous. While always interested in experimenting, he is most known for his diverse self-portraits.

Before his death in 2002, he bequeathed his entire studio collection to the Rare Books and Special Collections Library at the American University in Cairo.

This event attempts to showcase heretofore rarely seen material in Van Leo’s personal archive. The 16mm home movies, some shot in gorgeous color, will be screened at Cimatheque. In parallel, an exhibition curated by Ola Seif will run from Sunday, November 26th till December 10th.

**This exhibition in in cooperation with the American University in Cairo

Full details are below:

Exhibition Opening: Sunday, November 26th, 6PM (will continue till December 10th)

Screening: Sunday, November 26th, 2017. 7pm.

Free entrance, but space is limited to 45 seats, so please come early