This week, the Greek Cultural Centre in Cairo hosted a two-day documentary screening event titled "Greeks in Egyptian Eyes," offering a contemporary perspective on the history and legacy of Egypt’s Greek community. Held on May 12 and 13 in collaboration with the Hathor Association for Culture and Arts, the event featured six Egyptian documentaries that explore the lives, memories, and identities of Greeks who were once a significant presence in the country.

The films diverge from conventional historical accounts and official narratives by presenting personal and communal stories drawn from experiences in cities such as Alexandria, Port Said, and Cairo. For much of the 20th century, Greeks were deeply integrated into Egyptian society, contributing to its social and economic fabric through businesses, schools, and cultural institutions. At its peak, the Greek population in Egypt numbered approximately 140,000 before a sharp decline occurred in the 1950s amid political and social changes. Despite this reduction, cultural connections between the two communities have persisted.

Nikolaos Papageorgiou, the Greek Ambassador to Egypt, described the Greek community as “an inseparable part of Egyptian society” and emphasized that the screenings were particularly significant because they depicted this shared history “through the eyes of Egyptian creators.” Ahmed Rashwan, director and chairman of the Hathor Association for Culture and Arts, highlighted the event’s dual cultural and humanitarian importance. He noted that it not only sheds light on Egypt’s historic cosmopolitan makeup but also underscores the country’s longstanding tradition of embracing diverse nationalities as part of its social fabric.

Among the featured films was “Gozour (Rizes)” (2023), directed by Abdel Qader Allam and Amr Nawar. This short documentary traces the memories of Greeks in Port Said as they revisit familiar streets, buildings, and cafés connected to their family histories. “Yonani Masri (Greek Egyptian)” (2024), by Youssr Farouk Flux, blends historical overview with personal narratives, tracing the intertwined Greek and Egyptian identities from the era of Alexander the Great to the 20th century’s Greek community’s impact on urban life.

Other documentaries addressed themes of belonging and displacement. “Patrida” (2025), directed by Zeyad Osama, explores Greeks who chose Egypt as their adopted homeland, many of whom acquired Egyptian citizenship and established multi-generational roots. “Returnees from Egypt” (2024), by Sameh El Laboudi, follows Greeks who emigrated back to Greece yet maintained aspects of the Egyptian identities formed during their time along the Nile.

Alexandria, historically known for its cosmopolitan character, featured prominently throughout the screenings. Hanan Radi’s “Watan Bel-Ekhtyar (A Homeland by Choice)” (2020) profiles descendants of various foreign communities still residing in the city. Sherif Fathy Salem’s “Tilk Al-Askandria (That Alexandria)” (2013) reconstructs Alexandria’s multicultural golden age in the early 20th century through the recollections of residents from Greek, Italian, Armenian, Levantine, and Egyptian backgrounds.

The timing of this cultural event coincides with a broader resurgence of Greek-Egyptian ties in Cairo, marked by the revival of the Cavafy Festival and other collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening shared heritage between the two communities.