   youssef chahine (; 25 january 1926 &ndash; 27 july 2008) was an egyptian film director active in the egyptian film industry since 1950. he was credited with launching the career of actor omar sharif. a critically acclaimed director frequently seen in film festivals during decades, chahine also had his reach to wider international filmgoers' audiences as one of the co-directors of 11'9"01 september 11. ==early life== chahine was born in alexandria, egypt to a christian family. his father was an attorney of lebanese descent, who at some point during his life became a supporter of the nationalist wafd party. his mother was of greek descent. chahine was raised in his father's catholic faith. at his childhood home in the cosmopolitan city of alexandria, the family spoke four languages. in 2001, a trip was paid by chahine to his father's land in zahle, lebanon, where a street was named after him. although born a christian, youssef chahine was not a believer in organized religion and it was stated that, if asked of his religion, he would reply: "egyptian".[http://www.elaph.com/elaphweb/newspapers/2008/6/3
1926_births 2008_deaths Arab_Christians CollA"ge_Saint_Marc,_Alexandria_alumni Deaths_from_cerebral_hemorrhage Egyptian_Arab_nationalists Egyptian_film_directors Egyptian_former_Christians Egyptian_people_of_Lebanese_descent People_from_Alexandria Victoria_College,_Alexandria_alumni