Picture304pp • 170x240mm • Hardback
ISBN: 9789775864307
Price: £25.00
Available: September 2025

DREAM FACTORY ON THE NILE
THE Pierre Sioufi Collection of Egyptian Cinema Lobby Cards

Introduction by Rasha Azab
Edited by Sherif Boraie
Dream Factory on the Nile offers a glimpse into Sioufi's collection of Egyptian lobby cards, possibly the largest in the world.
Inspired by Hollywood, Egyptian cinematographers elevated Egyptian cinema to the world's second largest film industry (after Hollywood and competing with Bollywood), and established Cairo as the film hub of the Arab world.
To support their efforts, they used, amongst others, the lobby card.

Lobby cards, adorned with meticulously illustrated poster art, on-set photographs, and a credit list, including production details and names of the cast, crew, director, screenwriter, and composer, soon became collectibles - and an invaluable resource for the study of cinema history.

Pierre Sioufi (1961-2018), a dedicated collector and artist, left an enduring legacy. He not only contributed to the historic 2011 Egyptian uprising but also amassed a vast and unparalleled collection of cinema memorabilia. His dedication preserved a record of the evolution of Egyptian cinema, from the 1930s to the 2000s.
About the Contributors
Rasha Azab, a journalist, writer, and activist, traces this narrative from its roots, shedding light on Egyptian cinema's journey, delving into the intricacies of this ever-enchanting chapter of Arab cultural history.


Sherif Boraie is an editor and publisher based in Cairo. He founded his imprint, Zeitouna, in 1988, under which he has published a great number of highly illustrated books on Egyptian history, from the pharaohs to modern times. An expert in Egyptian history and heritage, Sherif is a leading light in the cultural scene of Egypt and with an unequalled knowledge of his subject.
Max Scott, Nomad Publishing