This had been an intended project for some years and he was finally able to film it in 1994. This film created a controversy in Egypt between liberals and fundamentalists who opposed the depiction of religious characters in films. In 1997, 46 years later, his work was acknowledged at the Cannes Film Festival with the lifetime achievement award. Chahine is also credited with discovering Omar Sharif, whose first starring role was in Chahine's film "The Blazing Sun" (1954). He also provided Hind Rostom with a role early on in her career in "Bab al-Hadid" ("Cairo Station.")