Egyptian film producer and critic Hossam Elwan dies at 54

Egyptian film producer, screenwriter, and critic Hossam Elwan has passed away at the age of 54 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Elwan had previously shared details of his diagnosis in August 2025, noting symptoms such as stomach and chest pain alongside a loss of appetite.

Elwan was a prominent figure in independent Egyptian cinema, known for supporting unconventional artistic visions and young talents. His professional career spanned film production, literary writing, and film criticism. His notable film credits include ‘Hawi’ (2010), ‘Hot Dry Summer’ (2015), ‘Ali, Goat and Ibrahim’ (2016), ‘Cactus Flower’ (2017), and ‘You Will Die at Twenty’.

An academic by training, Elwan studied at the Higher Institute of Cinema in Egypt and earned a Master’s degree in Cinema Studies from the University of San Francisco. Beyond film, he was an author, publishing the book ‘A Lonely Suitcase’. His contributions to the arts were recognized with the State Award for Creativity in 1998, and he served as a jury member for the International Critics' Week at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2017.