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Al-Ahram Weekly 29 Apr. - 5 May 1999 Issue No. 427 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 29 Apr. - 5 May 1999 Issue No. 427
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Focus Special Travel Sports People Features Living Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Wondrous water world
By Nashwa Abdel-Tawab
Had you been there, you might have felt like a golden fish with fins drawn back diving to the deepest reaches of the sea in Walt Disney's Little Mermaid. Remember Sebastian's immortal words: "Darling it's better, down where it's wetter, take it from me."
Sharm Al-Sheikh -- one of the world's most beautiful diving spots -- was the perfect venue to show the six winning films from the 1998 Underwater Film Festival. This was especially the case, considering that the Golden Palm winner was the Egyptian-made Colour of Sinai, produced by Tamer Mohamed El-Ana
Indeed, the watery world is a magical place, a visual delight where exotic sea creatures live among colourful caverns, weird-looking corals and waving weeds. Diving in Sinai's offshore reefs is like venturing into the unknown, a world with its own unique codes and laws. As such, it is a challenge for the underwater photographer. Seven hundred and fifty competitors from 42 countries participated in the biggest underwater film festival last November in France, and more than 30,000 spectators watched the films. All of the films were spectacular and the judges obviously had a difficult time choosing the best. When the six winners were finally announced, it was Colours of Sinai, produced by Egypt's Tamer Mohamed El-Ana, that scooped the Golden Palm Award.
Before attending the two-day screening of the six winning films in the Ghazala Hotels at Sharm Al-Sheikh, I decided to take with me a diving suit and camera instead of a pen and paper, so that I could share, rather than record, the experience.
"Na'ama Bay at Sharm Al-Sheikh is unquestionably one of the most spectacular underwater sites in the world," said Peter Schiess, area general manager of the Ghazala Hotels. "We felt it appropriate to screen the six winning films here where there are so many fans and 32 diving centres out of the 46 in South Sinai."
Colours of Sinai documents the natural cycle of the underwater world over a period of a year. It took El-Ana almost 300 hours of diving to shoot the 20-minute documentary. He was helped by his wife who is well-versed in the techniques of professional film-editing.
But it was not all plain sailing. El-Ana recalls that the filming had its turbulent moments. "One morning I went down early to shoot barracuda. But I surfaced in the middle of the Red Sea, in the international water zone. There was nothing in sight from 7am to 11.30am. Eventually, I was picked up by a passing boat," he said. "All I managed to shoot was 30 seconds of film."
The beauty of Colours of Sinai is created by the contrast of sand and sea, tranquillity and tension, noise and silence, rhythm and inconsistency, light and darkness. These paradoxical elements have been harmonised by an oriental soundtrack which blends so seamlessly with the visuals that it appears as though the fish themselves are Egyptians dressed in the traditional dress of the Arab Bedouin crossing that vast transparent sea with their camels and horses.
El-Ana has been diving in the Sinai for 10 years and wanted to communicate its uniqueness for some time. In 1996, he met Pierre Corton, head of the Antibes Festival, and gave him his film Blue Heaven, which was entered into the 1997 competition and won a Golden Fin Award. It was after this that El-Ana decided to shoot a film especially for the 1998 festival. "I don't think I'll take part again because the competitors are all heavily sponsored, by the BBC for example, and I'm totally alone," El-Ana said decisively.
"El-Ana's film can be regarded as a precious brochure to promote diving tourism in Sinai, Egypt," said Antoine Riyad, chairman of the board of the Ghazala Hotels. "Because of this, we decided to extend the festival. It wasn't just for the screening of films, but a festival of Arab touch. It was divided into several contests: a camel race, documentary film shooting in the waters of the Sinai, mountain climbing, safaris and sea and desert photography."
The underwater photography exhibition included 80 outstanding pictures by Amr Taher, Tamer El-Ana and Rafel Al-Maary. Al-Maary was drawn to the Malta fish for their big bodies and gentle character, while El-Ana found his friends among the turtles.
Egyptians and foreigners can participate in similar festivals, which are being held as part of an effort to boost tourism. Information will be posted on the Ghazala web site soon.
Meanwhile, if you're planning a trip to Sharm or Sinai, don't forget to take your camera. You might find your pictures are good enough to enter into next March's photography competition, which is being run by the hotel group. "We will be announcing details of the events within the next few months," said Amr El-Nahhas, who organises events for the Ghazala Hotels.
