CINEMA’S CHANGE-MAKERS OF 2023

In what has now become an eagerly awaited - and sometimes hotly disputed - annual tradition, Arab Cinema Magazine presents the artists, artisans and power-brokers who have had the biggest impact on Arab-language cinema over the past twelve months. The 101 number is a somewhat arbitrary cut-off, we admit, especially now that the Arab entertainment industry has developed and broadened to such an exciting extent. With the wealth of creative and executive talent on offer, we would easily fill the entire magazine with the names of those you need to know or be in business with. But the numerical cap does at least force a certain editorial rigor, and internal debate about who should make the final cut. As in previous editions, all these names are not ranked, but rather grouped together alongside their immediate peers in various categories. Regular readers of the GOLDEN 101 will also notice something different this year: several of the entries are accompanied by a quick-fire Question & Answer session with those who made this year’s Hot List. Apart from making this a more fun read, these Q&As also serve to lend some personality to individual names and faces who would otherwise remain just a collection of corporate bios. In doing so, we learned that the dream job that many on this list would have wanted had they not become successful in cinema was to be an airline pilot. Who knew? And with that revelation, please buckle up and enjoy this year’s flight across the Arab world of cinema change-makers.

THE FILMMAKERS
abdullah al arak
KUWAITI
read more...
abdulelah alqurashi
Saudi
read more...
amjad al-rasheed
JORDANIAN
read more...
ahmed yassin daradji
JORDANIAN
read more...
amr gamal
Yemeni
read more...
bassel ghandour
jordanian
read more...
Darin J. Sallam
jordanian
read more...
ERIGE SEHIRI
FRENCH / TUNISIAN
read more...
FIRAS KHOURY
PALESTINIAN
read more...
Kaouther Ben Hania
TUNISIAN
read more...
Lotfy Nathan
AMERICAN / TUNISIAN
read more...
maha haj
Palestinian
read more...
Marwan Hamed
egyptian
read more...
MARYAM TOUZANI
Moroccan
read more...
MUAYAD ALAYAN
Palestinian
read more...
NOEL & MICHELLE KESERWANY
FRENCH / LEBANESE
read more...
SALLY EL-HOSAINI
EGYPTIAN WELSH
read more...
wissam charaf
Lebanese
read more...
SOUDADE KAADAN
Syrian
read more...
TALAL DERKI
Syrian
read more...
The Actors
ADAM BESSA
Actor
Egypt
read more...
ADILA BENDIMERAD
ACTRESS, PRODUCER, WRITER
ALGERIAN
read more...
Ahmed Malek
Actor
EGYPT | EGYPTIAN
read more...
Dhafer L’Abidine
ACTOR, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
UK | TUNISIAN
read more...
FATIMA AL-BANAWI
ACTRESS, DIRECTOR, WRITER
SAUDI
read more...
Hend Sabry
Actress-Director-Producer
Tunisia-Egypt
read more...
Kinda Alloush
Actress
EGYPT, SYRIA | SYRIAN
read more...
SALEH BAKRI
ACTOR
PALESTINIAN
read more...
TAMER HOSNY
ACTOR, SINGER, DIRECTOR, WRITER
EGYPTIAN
read more...
RAZANE JAMMAL
ACTRESS
UK | BRITISH LEBANESE
read more...
Saba Mubarak
Actress and Producer
EGYPT, JORDAN | JORDANIAN
read more...
Yousra
Actress
EGYPTIAN
read more...
The Producers
read more...
Mohamed Hefzy
FOUNDER & MANAGER of Film Clinic
EGYPTIAN
Daniel Ziskind
PRODUCER of FILM CLINIC
FRENCH
Shahinaz El Akkad
FOUNDER AND CEO of LAGOONIE FILM PRODUCTION
EGYPTIAN
read more...
Rula Nasser
FOUNDER of THE IMAGINARIUM FILMS
Jordan
read more...
read more...
ZEINAB ABU ALSAMH
GENERAL MANAGER of MBC STUDIOS
SAUDI
CHRISTINA WAYNE
MANAGING DIRECTOR of MBC STUDIOS
AMERICAN
read more...
AMJAD ABU ALALA
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER
SUDANESE
MOHAMED AL OMDA
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER
SUDANESE
Georges Schoucair
Founder and CEO of Abbout Productions
LEBANESE
read more...
Habib Attia
Managing Director of CineteleFilms
Tunisia
read more...
ALAA YOUSEF FADAN
CHAIRMAN AND CEO of TELFAZ11
SAUDI
read more...
SAWSAN ASFARI
FOUNDER AND MANAGER
LEBANESE
read more...
THE PRESENTERS
RAYA ABIRACHED
TV PRESENTER FOR MBC, PRODUCER
UK, KSA | BRITISH LEBANESE
read more...
Lana Al Jundi
TV PRESENTER ON SKY NEWS ARABIA, SCREENWRITER AND DIRECTOR
UAE | SYRIAN
read more...
THE CREW
AHMAD AL MORSY
Cinematographer, Director
EGYPTIAN
read more...
Ahmed Hafez
EDITOR
EGYPTIAN
read more...
AHMED MOURAD
SCREENWRITER, NOVELIST
EGYPTIAN
read more...
HESHAM NAZIH
Composer
EGYPTIAN
read more...
HEBA OTHMAN
EDITOR
EGYPTIAN
read more...
Rana Eid
SOUND DESIGNER
LEBANESE
read more...
SUAD BUSHNAQ
MUSIC COMPOSER
CANADA | JORDANIAN
read more...
THE STREAMERS
read more...
NUHA ELTAYEB
DIRECTOR OF CONTENT FOR TURKEY, MENA, & AFRICA at Netflix
SUDANESE
Ahmed Sharkawi
DIRECTOR OF ARABIC SERIES at Netflix
Egyption
read more...
SHEIKHA DANA NASSER SABAH AL-AHMAD AL-SABAH
CHAIRPERSON of OSN
KUWAITI
JOE KAWKABANI
CEO of OSN
LEBANESE
read more...
MAAZ SHEIKH
CO-FOUNDER AND CEO of STARZPLAY ARABIA
EMARATI
TONY SAAB
SENIOR VP FOR CONTENT AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS of STARZPLAY ARABIA
LEBANESE
read more...
Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim
FOUNDER AND CHAIRPERSON OF MBC GROUP
SAUDI
SAM BARNETT
CEO of MBC Group
BRITISH
NATASHA MATOS-HEMINGWAY
CHIEF COMMERCIAL AND MARKETING OFFICER OF VOD
SOUTH AFRICAN
read more...
NASHWA GAD EL-HAK
CHAIRPERSON & MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WATCH IT
EGYPTIAN
THE LIGHTHOUSES
Butheina Kazim
FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR of Cinema Akil
EMIRATI
read more...
HANIA MROUE
CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR of METROPOLIS CINEMA
LEBANESE
read more...
read more...
HANNA ATALLAH
FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR of FILMLAB: PALESTINE
PALESTINIAN
OLA SALAMA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of FILMLAB: PALESTINE
PALESTINIAN
read more...
Marianne Khoury
CO-FOUNDER of ZAWYA CINEMA
EGYPTIAN
Youssef Shazli
MANAGING DIRECTOR of Zawya Cinema
EGYPTIAN
THE BROADCASTERS
HADEEL KAMEL
MANAGING DIRECTOR of ART
SAUDI
read more...
PRINCE AL WALEED BIN TALAL
OWNER of Rotana
SAUDI
read more...
ASHRAF SALMAN
CEO of UNITED MEDIA SERVICES
EGYPTIAN
read more...
THE LAUNCHERS
read more...
Nada Doumani
DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER of Amman International Film Festival
JORDANIAN
Jad Abi Khalil
Director of Beirut Cinema Platform
Lebanon
read more...
read more...
HUSSEIN FAHMY
PRESIDENT of CIFF
EGYPTIAN
AMIR RAMSES
DIRECTOR Of CIFF
EGYPTIAN
LYNDA BELKHIRIA
HEAD OF CFC
TUNISIAN
Ridha Behi
DIRECTOR GENERAL of CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL
TUNISIAN
read more...
Orwa Nyrabia
Artistic director of IDFA
SYRIAN
read more...
read more...
MOHAMMED AL-TURKI
CEO of RED SEA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
SAUDI
ANTOINE KHALIFE
DIRECTOR OF ARAB PROGRAM
LEBANESE
SHIVANI PANDYA
MANAGING DIRECTOR of RED SEA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
INDIAN
ZAIN ZEDAN
RED SEA SOUK MANAGER
SAUDI
MYRIAM ARAB
RED SEA SOUK CO-MANAGER
French
Mohamed Keblawi
FOUNDER – HEAD OF FESTIVAL & INDUSTRY Of MAFF
PALESTINIAN
read more...
RÉMI BONHOMME
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE MIFF AND DIRECTOR OF THE ATLAS WORKSHOPS
FRENCH
read more...
Elias Khlat
Director of Tripoli Film Festival
Lebanon
read more...
THE FUNDERS
Rima Mismar
Director of ARAB FUND FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
LEBANESE
read more...
read more...
Fatma Al Remaihi
CEO OF DOHA FILM INSTITUTE
QATARI
Khalil Benkirane
HEAD OF GRANT UNITOF DFI
MOROCCAN
Alessandra Speciale
Director of Final Cut in Venice
Italian
read more...
read more...
Marco Orsini
CHAIRMAN of INTERNATIONAL EMERGING FILM TALENT ASSOCIATION
MONÉGASQUE
LACEY TU
PRESIDENT of INTERNATIONAL EMERGING FILM TALENT ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN
Vincenzo Bugno
HEAD OF WORLD CINEMA FUND
ITALY-GERMANY
read more...
THE ENABLERS
Hans Fraikin
FILM AND TELEVISION COMMISSIONER AT ABU DHABI FILM COMMISSION
CANADIAN
read more...
CHARLENE DELEON-JONES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of FILM AL ULA
BRITISH
read more...
MAJED AL SUWAIDI
MANAGING DIRECTOR of DUBAI MEDIA CITY, DUBAI STUDIO CITY, DUBAI PRODUCTION CITY
EMIRATI
read more...
ABDULLAH AL-RASHED
DIRECTOR of Ithra
SAUDI
read more...
TURKI ALALSHIKH
DIRECTOR of Ithra
SAUDI
read more...
Wayne Borg
MEDIA INDUSTRIES, ENTERTAINMENT & CULTURE MANAGING DIRECTOR of NEOM
AMERICAN
read more...
read more...
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Royal Film Commission
JORDANIAN
Princess Rym Ali
Commissioner of Royal Film Commission
ALGERIAN / JORDANIAN
MOHANNAD AL BAKRI
Managing Director of Royal Film Commission
JORDANIAN
Abdullah Al Eyyaf AL-QAHTANI
CEO of FILM SAUDI
SAUDI
read more...
read more...
Mohamed Al Mubarak
CHAIRPERSON OF TWOFOUR54
UAE
MARK WHITEHEAD
CEO OF IMAGE NATION ABU DHABI AND TWOFOUR54
BRITISH
THE EXHIBITORS &
DISTRIBUTORS
TAREQ ABU LUGHOD
CEO of ARAB MEDIA NETWORK (AMN), THE RAINBOW THEATER
JORDAN
read more...
FAISAL BALTYUOR
CEO OF CINEWAVES AND MUVI STUDIOS
SAUDI
read more...
read more...
MARIO HADDAD SR.
CEO of ALLIED FILM DISTRIBUTORS
LEBANESE
MARIO HADDAD JR.
CEO of Empire International
LEBANESE
read more...
HISHAM AL-GHANIM
CHAIRPERSON AND CEO OF Kuwait National Cinema Company
KUWAITI
GIANLUCA CHACRA
FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER OF FRE
LEBANESE
ZAID F. JAWAD
CEO of Iraqi Cinemas
IRAQI
read more...
read more...
Alaa Karkouti
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER of MAD Solutions
Maher Diab
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER of MAD Solutions
Colin Brown
INTERNATIONAL MANAGING PARTNER of MAD Solutions
AMERICAN
read more...
IGNACE LAHOUD
CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure
LEBANESE
TONI EL-MASSIH
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF VOX CINEMAS
LEBANESE
read more...
Gaby Khoury
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MIF
EGYPTIAN
Ramzi Khoury
DEPUTY CEO AT MIF AND MANAGING PARTNER AT ORIENT FILMS
EGYPTIAN
read more...
ADON QUINN
CEO OF MUVI CINEMAS
AUSTRALIAN
SULTAN AL HOKAIR
FOUNDER AND CHAIRPERSON OF MUVI CINEMAS
SAUDI
Hammad Atassi
President and Founder of Prime Cinemas/Empire Cinema and CinemaCity
LEBANESE
read more...
Mamdouh Salem
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Rowad Media
SAUDI
read more...
read more...
ABDULLAH AL DAWOOD
CHAIRPERSON
SAUDI
SARI KHUMAIYES
AMC'S COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR AT KSA
SAUDI
Selim Ramia
CHAIRPERSON of Selim Ramia & Co. Holding
LEBANESE
read more...
THE PATHFINDER
ARAB CINEMA CENTER | GLOBAL

CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S) : The brainchild of MAD Solutions (see above), the ACC was created eight years ago as an umbrella presence at film events to advocate - and where necessary agitate - on behalf of arab cinema and culture the world over. New co-production opportunities have been forged, new market doorways opened, and new talented career paths launched into orbit. This very magazine is one visible expression of that commitment, and so also are all the new avenues that are opening for Arab projects and filmmakers in countries where not so long ago they were invisible.
Drawing our inspiration from the Palme d’Or, the prized Golden Palm Leaf that is awarded by the Cannes jury to the best competition film each year, the Arab Cinema Centre is presenting its latest survey of those with the Midas touch when it comes to Arab filmmaking. Over the following pages you will see names of the golden one hundred and one talents and entities that the filmmaking world needs to know based on our latest assessment of recent dealings in Arab cinema. It is important to note that these names are not ranked, but rather grouped together alongside their immediate peers in various categories. And just to be clear, these names were all prioritized for their recent contributions to Arab-language cinema, rather than their sway over the television or digital media business. But since so much of cinema now overlaps with the business of streaming platforms, it should come as no surprise to see a large contingent of those who are equally at home on the mobile, small, large and supersized IMAX screens. Cinema is becoming platform-agnostic and so too, clearly are its flourishing artists, artisans and power-brokers.

THE DIRECTORS
Bassel Ghandour
Director - Writer
Jordan
read more...
Haifaa Al-Mansour
Director - Writer
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Hany Abu-Assad
Director
Palestine
read more...
Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige
Director
Palestine
read more...
Kaouther Ben Hania
Director and Writer
Tunisia
read more...
Mano Khalil
Director
Syria-Switzerland
read more...
Leyla Bouzid
Director
Tunisia
read more...
Mohamed Diab
Director and Writer
Egypt
read more...
Murad Abu Eisheh
Director
Egypt
read more...
Maha Haj
Director
Palestine
read more...
Maryam Touzani
Director
Morocco
read more...
Monia Akl
Director
Lebanon
read more...
Omar EL Zohairy
Director
Egypt
read more...
Suzannah Mirghani
Director
Sudan
read more...
Zaid Abu Hamdan
Director
Jordan
read more...
The Producers
read more...
Mohamed Hefzy
Founder and Manager of FILM CLINIC
Egypt
Daniel Ziskind
FC REPRESENTATIVE IN EUROPE
France
Dora Bouchoucha
FOUNDER & MANAGER of NOMADIS IMAGES
Tunisia
read more...
read more...
Abdulelah Alahmary
CHAIRMAN Of ARABIA PICTURES
Saudi Arabia
Roua Almadani
CEO Of ARABIA PICTURES
Saudi Arabia
Georges Schoucair
Founder and CEO of Abbout Productions
Lebanon
read more...
Habib Attia
Managing Director of CineteleFilms
Tunisia
read more...
Shahinaz El Akkad
Founder and CEO of Lagoonie Film Production
Egypt
read more...
Read More...
Juliette Lapoutre
CO-FOUNDER OF STILL MOVING
FRANCE
Pierre Menahem
CO-FOUNDER OF STILL MOVING
FRANCE
Read More...
Tamer Morsi
Founder of Synergy Films
Egypt
Ahmed Badawy
General Manager of Synergy Films
Egypt
Rula Nasser
Founder of Imaginarium Films
Jordan
read more...
FILM CREW
Ahmed Amer
Writer and Director
Egypt
read more...
Ahmed Hafez
Writer and Director
Egypt
read more...
Hesham Nazih
COMPOSER
Egypt
read more...
Reem El Adl
COSTUME DESIGNER
Egypt
read more...
The Actors
Ali Suliman
Actor
Palestine
read more...
Ahmed Malek
Actor
Egypt
read more...
Amir El-Masry
Actor
Egypt
read more...
Dhafer L’Abidine
Actor and Director
Tunisia
read more...
Hend Sabry
Actress-Director-Producer
Tunisia-Egypt
read more...
Kinda Alloush
Actress
Syria-Egypt
read more...
Maisa Abd Elhadi
Actress
Palestine
read more...
Menna Shalabi
Actress
Egypt
read more...
Mona Zaki
Actress
Egypt
read more...
Nadine Labaki
Director, Actress and Writer
Lebanon
read more...
Saba Mubarak
Actress and Producer
Jordan
read more...
Tamer Hosny
Actor and Singer
Egypt
read more...
Yousra
Actress
Egypt
read more...
The Exhibitors & Distributors
read more...
Adam Aron
CEO of AMC Entertainment
USA
Andy Such
Interim CEO, AMC Cinemas KSA
Saudi Arabia
Butheina Kazim
Founder of Cinema Akil
UAE
read more...
read more...
Hisham Al-Ghanim
Chairman and CEO of Kuwait National Cinema Company
Kuwait
Gianluca Chacra
Managing Partner of Front Row
UAE
Faisal Beltyour
Founder and CEO of CinemaWaves Films
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Mario G. Haddad
CEO of Empire International
Lebanon
read more...
Zaid Kurdi
CEO of Dollar Film and Managing Director of New Century Production
Egypt
read more...
Jamal Sannan
Founder & CEO of Eagle Films
Lebanon
read more...
Andrei Kamarowsky
Acting CEO of Gulf Film
UAE
read more...
Carlo Vincenti
CEO of Italia Film International
Lebanon
read more...
Zaid Fadel
CEO of Iraqi Cinemas
Iraq
read more...
read more...
Alaa Karkouti
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MAD Solutions
Egypt
Maher Diab
Co-founder and Managing Partner of MAD Solutions
Egypt
Colin Brown
Managing Partner-International of MAD Solutions
USA
Abdallah Al-Shami
Managing Partner-GCC of MAD Solutions
LEBANON-UAE
read more...
Igance Lahoud
CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Leisure
UAE
Toni Massih
Director of Film Content and Distribution of VOX Cinemas
UAE
Hania Mroue
Co-Founder and Managing Director of Metropolis cinema and MC Distribution
Lebanon
read more...
read more...
Gaby Khoury
MISR International Films and Orient Films
Egypt
Ramzi Khoury
MISR International Films and Orient Films
Egypt
Sultan Al Hokair
Founder & CEO, Muvi Cinemas
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Mohammed Nagro
Chairman of N Stars
Saudi Arabia-UAE-Egypt
read more...
Selim Ramia
Chairman of Selim Ramia & Co. Holding
Lebanon
read more...
Hammad Atassi
President and Founder of Prime Cinemas/Empire Cinema and CinemaCity
Lebanon
read more...
Mamdouh Salem
CEO of Rowad Media & Cinema 70
Saudi Arabia
read more...
read more...
Marianne Khoury
Producer, Director, Distributor and Exhibitor
Egypt
Youssef Shazli
Managing Director of Zawya Cinema
Egypt
THE ENABLERS
read more...
MAJED AL SUWAIDI
Managing Director, Dubai Studio City & Dubai Media City
UAE
Jamal Al Sharif
CEO, Dubai Film & TV Commission
UAE
Hans Fraikin
Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner
UAE
read more...
Hanna Atallah
FOUNDER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Filmlab: Palestine
Palestine
Ola Salama
Executive Director, Filmlab: Palestine
Palestine
Wayne Borg
Managing Director of Media, Entertainment, Culture and Fashion of NEOM
Saudi Arabia
read more...
read more...
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Royal Film Commission of Jordan
Jordan
Princess Rym Ali
Commissioner of Royal Film Commission of Jordan
Jordan
Mohannad Bakri
Managing Director of Royal Film Commission of Jordan
Jordan
read more...
Mohamed Al Mubarak
Chairman, Image Nation Abu Dhabi
UAE
Michael Garin
CEO, Image Nation & twofour54
UAE
Ben Ross
Head of Narrative Film and Television, Image Nation
UAE
read more...
Abdullah Al Eyyaf AL-QAHTANI
CEO of SAUDI FILM COMMISSION
Saudi Arabia
GHASSAN AL-HABIB
FILM PROMOTION DIRECTOR of SAUDI FILM COMMISSION
Saudi Arabia
THE STREAMERS & BROADCASTERS
Hadeel Kamel
Managing Director of ART
Saudi Arabia
read more...
read more...
Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim
Founder and Chairman of MBC
Saudi Arabia
Sam Barnett
CEO of MBC Group
UAE
Peter Smith
Managing director of MBC Studios
UAE
Safa Aburizik
Head of Operations
UAE
Maaz Sheikh
CEO and Co-Founder, Starzplay Arabia
UAE
read more...
read more...
Nuha Eltayeb
Director, Content Acquisitions at Netflix
UAE
Ahmed Sharkawi
Director of Arab Series at Netflix
EGYPT
read more...
Paul Gillooly
CEO of OSN
UK
Rolla Karam
SVP Content Acquisition and Programming
LEBANON
NICK FORWARD
CEO of OSN
AUSTRALIA
read more...
Prince Al Waleed bin Talal
Owner of Rotana Media Group
Saudi Arabia
Waleed Arab Hashem
CEO, Rotana Studios
Saudi Arabia
read more...
HASSAN ABDALLAH
CEO OF UNITED MEDIA SERVICES
EGYPT
NASHWA GAD
CEO OF WATCHIT
EGYPT
THE PRESENTERS
Raya Abirached
TV PRESENTER
LEBANON-KSA-UK
read more...
Lana Al Jundi
TV Presenter in Sky News Arabia
Syria-UAE
read more...
THE LAUNCHERS
read more...
Nada Doumani
Director of Amman International Film Festival
Jordan
Bassam Alasad
HEAD OF INDUSTRY
Jordan
Sam Lahoud
FOUNDING DIRECTOR of BEIRUT SHORTS (NDU) INT. FILM FESTIVAL, THE BEIRUT INT. WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL
Lebanon
read more...
Ridha Behi
DIRECTOR GENERAL of CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL
Lebanon
read more...
Orwa Nyrabia
Artistic director of IDFA
Syria
read more...
Shirin Ghareeb
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FILMFEST DC & DIRECTOR OF ARABIAN SIGHTS FESTIVAL
IRAQ
read more...
read more...
Naguib Sawires
Founder of El Gouna Film Festival
Egypt
SAMIH SAWIRES
Founder of El Gouna Film Festival
Egypt
Intishal Al-Tamimi
Manager of El Gouna Film Festival
Iraq
read more...
JACINTHA DE NOBREGO
CHAIRPERSON, DURBAN FILMMART INSTITUTE
SOUTH AFRICA
MAGDALENE REDDY
ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, DFM
SOUTH AFRICA
Mohamed Keblawi
Director of Malmo Arab Film Festival and Arab Cinema in Sweden
Palestine-Sweden
read more...
RÉMI BONHOMME
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE MIFF AND DIRECTOR OF THE ATLAS WORKSHOPS
FRANCE
read more...
read more...
MOHAMMED AL-TURKI
CEO Of RED SEA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
KSA-USA
ANTOINE KHALIFE
DIRECTOR OF ARAB PROGRAM
LEBANON
SHIVANI PANDYA
MANAGING DIRECTOR
INDIA-UAE
Talal Afifi
Curator of Sudan Film Factory and President of Sudan Film Festival
Sudan
read more...
Elias Khlat
Director of Tripoli Film Festival
Lebanon
read more...
Jad Abi Khalil
Director of Beirut Cinema Platform
Lebanon
read more...
THE FUNDERS
Rima Mismar
Director of AFAC (The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture)
Lebanon
read more...
read more...
Fatma Al Remaihi
CEO OF DOHA FILM INSTITUTE & HEAD,QUMRA
Qatar
Khalil Benkirane
HEAD OF GRANT UNITOF DFI
Qatar
Alessandra Speciale
Head of Final Cut in Venice
Italy
read more...
Marco Orsini
PRESIDENT of INTERNATIONAL EMERGING FILM TALENT ASSOCIATION (IEFTA)
MONACO
read more...
Vincenzo Bugno
HEAD OF WORLD CINEMA FUND
ITALY-GERMANY
read more...
THE SALES
GIORGOS KARNAVAS, KONSTANTINOS KONTOVRAKIS
FOUNDERS of HERETIC FILMS & HERETIC OUTREACH
GREECE
read more...
NICOLAS ESCHBACH
CO-FOUNDER AND HEAD OF SALES & ACQUISITIONS of INDIE SALES
FRANCE
read more...
read more...
Hedi Zardi
CEO of LUXBOX FILMS
TUNISIA
Fiorella Moretti
CEO - ACQUISITIONS of LUXBOX FILMS
FRANCE
Emilie Georges
CEO OF MEMENTO INTERNATIONAL
FRANCE
read more...
MARIE-PIERRE MACIA
FOUNDER AND PRODUCER OF MPM FILMS
FRANCE
read more...
ERIC LAGESSE
CEO OF PYRAMIDE FILMS
FRANCE
read more...
THE PATHFINDER
The brainchild of MAD Solutions (see above), the ACC was created eight years ago as an umbrella presence at film events to advocate – and where necessary agitate - on behalf of Arab cinema and culture the world over. New co-production opportunities have been forged, new market doorways opened, and new talented career paths launched into orbit. This very magazine is one visible expression of that commitment, and so too are all the new avenues that are opening for Arab projects and filmmakers in countries where not so long ago, they were invisible.
In what has become an annual tradition, the Arab Cinema Centre is unveiling here its latest survey of those currently seen as having the greatest international influence on Arab filmmaking. The Golden 101 lists the names of individuals, companies and institutions who have made the most significant waves over these past two years—and are most likely to keep doing so in the year ahead. This longer-than-usual qualifying period reflects the COVID-enforced interruptions of the past 18 months—a prolonged hiatus that also explains the absence of some of the more regular names in film sales from our previous lists. Their presence at film markets have not been quite as keenly felt as in previous years. They will surely return in greater force next year.

Over the following pages you will see names of the golden one hundred and one talents and entities that the filmmaking world needs to know based on our latest assessment of recent dealings in Arab cinema. This year’s entries come from thirteen different Arab countries as well as seven non-Arab countries that help knit the ecosystem together. While Egypt continues to dominate in numerical terms, Saudi Arabia has a noticeably much bigger presence now.

Once again, this annual parade of those who matter in the Arab film industry is being released to coincide with the Cannes Film Festival. You’ll see that these not names are not ranked, but rather they are ordered alphabetically by first names and grouped together alongside their immediate peers in various categories. More than ever, hard choices had to be made: with Arab talents being increasingly recognized around the world, we were unable find room to include several Arab filmmakers and actors who have burst onto the scene of late, including: the two Venice winning actors, Morocco’s Khansa Batma (ZANKA CONTACT) and Syria’s Yahya Mahayni (THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN); the filmmakers Jimmy Kerouz of Lebanon (BROKEN KEYS) and Mayye Zahed of Egypt (LIFT LIKE A GIRL); and the likes of British-born STAR WARS actor Amir El-Masry and Tunisian acting star Dhafer L’Abidine, who has just made his directorial debut with the film GHODWA. No doubt their names will start appearing on future lists.

And just to be clear, these names were all chosen for their recent contributions to Arab-language cinema, rather than their sway over the television or digital media business. But since so much of cinema now overlaps with the business of streaming platforms, it should come as no surprise to see a large contingent of those who traverse the big, the small and mobile screens. Cinema is becoming platform-agnostic and so too, clearly are its flourishing artists, artisans and power-brokers.

THE FILMMAKERS
Ali Alarabi
Director-Producer
EGYPT
read more...
Ameen Nayfeh
Director
Palestine
read more...
Amjad Abu Alala
Writer-Director
Sudan
read more...
Amr Salama
Writer-Director
EGYPT
read more...
Annemarie Jacir
Writer-Director
Palestine
read more...
Ayten Amin
Writer-Director
Egypt
read more...
Arab and Tarzan Nasser
Directors
Palestine
read more...
Bassel Ghandour
Writer-Director
Jordan
read more...
Eliane Raheb
Writer-Director
Jordan
read more...
Haifaa Al-Mansour
Writer-Director
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Hana Al Omair
Writer-Director
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Hany Abu-Assad
Writer-Director
Palestine
read more...
Kaouther Ben Hania
Writer-Director
Tunisia
read more...
Majid Al Ansari
Director-Producer
UAE
read more...
Marwan Hamed
Director
Egypt
read more...
Mehdi Barsaoui
Director
Tunisia
read more...
Mohamed Diab
Writer-Director
Egypt
read more...
Nabil Ayouch
Writer-Director
Morocco
read more...
Nadine Labaki
Writer-Director-Actress
Lebanon
read more...
Najwa Najjar
Writer-Director
Palestine
read more...
Nejib Belkadhi
Director
Tunisia
read more...
Sameh Alaa
Writer-Director
Egypt
read more...
Sameh Zoabi
Writer-Director
Palestine
read more...
Ahmed Amer
Writer-Director-Producer
Egypt
read more...
Ahmed Mourad
Writer
Egypt
read more...
The Producers
Dora Bouchoucha
Founder & Manager of Nomadis Images
Tunisia
read more...
Georges Schoucair
Founder and CEO of Abbout Productions
Lebanon
read more...
Habib Attia
Managing Director of CineteleFilms
Tunisia
read more...
Lamia Chraibi
Founder and Manager of La Prod
Morocco
read more...
read more...
Mohamed Hefzy
Founder and Manager of Film Clinic
Egypt
Daniel Ziskind
FILM CLINIC AND MAD SOLUTIONS REPRESENTATIVE IN EUROPE
France
Rula Nasser
Founder of Imaginarium Films
Jordan
read more...
Shahinaz El Akkad
Founder and CEO of Lagoonie Film Production
Egypt
read more...
Talal Al-Muhanna
Founder and Manager of Linked Productions
Kuwait
read more...
Read More...
Tamer Morsi
Founder of Synergy Films
Egypt
Ahmed Badawy
General Manager of Synergy Films
Egypt
The Actors
Ahmed Ezz
Actor
Egypt
read more...
Ahmed Malek
Actor
Egypt
read more...
Ali Suliman
Actor
Palestine
read more...
Hend Sabry
Actress-Director-Producer
Tunisia-Egypt
read more...
Hiam Abbass
Actress-Director
Palestine
read more...
Karim Abdel Aziz
Actor
Egypt
read more...
Kinda Alloush
Actress
Syria-Egypt
read more...
Maisa Abd Elhadi
Actress
Palestine
read more...
Menna Shalabi
Actress
Egypt
read more...
read more...
Mohammad Bakri
Actor
Palestine
Saleh Bakri
Actor
Palestine
Ziad Bakri
Actor
Palestine
Adam Bakri
Actor
Palestine
Saba Mubarak
Actress-Producer
Jordan
read more...
Sami Bouajila
Actor
Tunisia-France
read more...
Salim Dau
Actor
Palestine
read more...
Yousra
Actress-Singer
Egypt
read more...
The Exhibitors & Distributors
read more...
Adam Aron
CEO of AMC Entertainment
USA
Sari Khumaiyes
Commercial Director of AMC Cinemas KSA
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Alaa Karkouti
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MAD Solutions
Egypt
Maher Diab
Co-founder and Managing Partner
Egypt
Colin Brown
Managing Partner-International
USA
Abdallah Al-Shami
Managing Partner-GCC
LEBANON-UAE
Ahmad Golchin
Founder and Director of Phars Film
UAE
read more...
Andrei Kamarowsky
Acting CEO of Gulf Film
UAE
read more...
Butheina Kazim
Founder of Cinema Akil
UAE
read more...
read more...
Cameron Mitchel
CEO of VOX Cinemas
UAE
Jacques Kruger
General Manager Distribution, VOX
UAE
Toni Massih
Director of Film Content and Distribution, VOX
UAE
read more...
Gaby Khoury
MISR International Films and Orient Films
Egypt
Ramzi Khoury
MISR International Films and Orient Films
Egypt
Hania Mroué
Co-Founder and Managing Director of Metropolis cinema and MC Distribution
Lebanon
read more...
Hisham Abdel-Khalek
AL-MASSA COMPANY
EGYPT
read more...
read more...
Hisham Al-Ghanim
Chairman and CEO of Kuwait National Cinema Company
Kuwait
Gianluca Chakra
Managing Partner of Front Row
UAE
Mamdouh Salem
CEO of Rowad Media & Cinema 70
Saudi Arabia
read more...
read more...
Marianne Khoury
Producer, Director, Distributor and Exhibitor
Egypt
Youssef Shazli
Managing Director of Zawya Cinema
Egypt
Mario G. Haddad
CEO of Empire International
Lebanon
read more...
Mohammed Nagro
Chairman of N Stars
Saudi Arabia-UAE-Egypt
read more...
Selim Ramia
Chairman of Selim Ramia & Co. Holding
Lebanon
read more...
Zaid Fadel
CEO of Iraqi Cinemas
Iraq
read more...
Zaid Kurdi
CEO of Dollar Film and Managing Director of New Century Production
Egypt
read more...
THE ENABLERS
read more...
Christian Mouroux
Managing Director of Latin-Arab Film Festival and Latin Arab Co-Production Forum
Argentina
Edgardo Bechara El Khoury
Executive Director, LAFF
Argentina
read more...
Edouard Waintrop
Artistic Director, Red Sea Film Festival
Saudi Arabia
Antoine Khalife
Director of Arab Programme, RSFF
Saudi Arabia
Kaleem Aftab
Director of International Programme, RSFF
Saudi Arabia
Hanna Atallah
Artistic Director of FilmLab: Palestine
Palestine
read more...
Husam Sam Asi
Member of Golden Globes and TV Presenter on BBC Arabic
U.K.
read more...
read more...
Jamal Al-Sharif
Director of Dubai Studio City and Dubai Film Commission
UAE
Hans Fraikin
Manager of Abu Dhabi Film Commission
UAE
Lana Al Jundi
TV Presenter in Sky News Arabia
Syria-UAE
read more...
read more...
Hamoud al Rumayan
CEO OF INTIGRAL
Saudi Arabia
Markus Golder
Managing Director of Intigral and CEO of Jawwy TV
Saudi Arabia
Maryam Al-Mheiri
Vice-Chair of the Board of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi
UAE
read more...
read more...
Mohamed Al Mubarak
Chairman, Image Nation Abu Dhabi
UAE
Michael Garin
CEO, Image Nation & twofour54
UAE
Ben Ross
Head of Narrative Film and Television, Image Nation
UAE
Raya Abirached
TV Presenter, MBC
LEBANON-KSA-UK
read more...
read more...
Princess Rym Ali
Commissioner, Royal Film Commission of Jordan
Jordan
Mohannad Bakri
Managing Director, RFC
Jordan
Talal Afifi
Curator of Sudan Film Factory and President of Sudan Film Festival
Sudan
read more...
Turki Al-Sheikh
Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Wayne Borg
Managing Director of Media, Entertainment, Culture & Fashion, NEOM
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Zeina Sfeir
Co-Founder of Beirut DC, Publicist and Director
Lebanon
read more...
THE PLATFORMS
Hadeel Kamel
Managing Director of ART
Saudi Arabia
read more...
read more...
Nickhil Jakatdar
Founder and CEO of VuClip
Singapore
Abe Shady Aboul Naga
MENA Chief of VuClip
UAE
read more...
Patrick Tillieux
CEO of OSN
UAE
Rolla Karam
SVP Content Acquisition and Programming
UAE
read more...
Prince Al Waleed bin Talal
Owner of Rotana Media Group
Saudi Arabia
Waleed Arab Hashem
CEO, Rotana Studios
Saudi Arabia
Michael Cairns
COO, Rotana Studios
Saudi Arabia
read more...
Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim
Founder and Chairman of MBC
Saudi Arabia
Sam Barnett
CEO of MBC Group
UAE
Peter Smith
Managing director of MBC Studios
UAE
Safa Aburizik
Head of Operations
UAE
Yasser Hareb
Founder and CEO, Genomedia
UAE
read more...
THE FESTIVALS
Elias Khlat
Producer and founder of Tripoli Film Festival
Lebanon
read more...
Jad Abi Khalil
Director of Beirut Cinema Platform
Lebanon
read more...
Mohamed Hefzy
President of CIFF
Egypt
read more...
Mohamed Keblawi
Director of Malmo Arab Film Festival and Arab Cinema in Sweden
Palestine-Sweden
read more...
Nada Doumani
Director of Amman International Film Festival
Jordan
read more...
Orwa Nyrabia
Artistic director of IDFA
Syria
read more...
read more...
Naguib Sawires
Founder of El Gouna Film Festival, iProductions
Egypt
Intishal Al-Tamimi
Manager of El Gouna Film Festival
Iraq
Amir Ramsis
Artistic Director of El Gouna Film Festival
Egypt
Rosh Abdelfatah
Artistic Director | Rotterdam Arab Film Festival
Syria
read more...
Shirin Ghareeb
Deputy Director of Washington DC International Film Festival and Festival Director of Arabian Sights
US
read more...
THE FUNDERS
Alessandra Speciale
Head of Final Cut in Venice
Italy
read more...
read more...
Fatma Al Remaihi
CEO of Doha Film Institute
Qatar
Khalil Benkirane
Head of Grant Unit of DFI
Qatar
Rima Mismar
Director of AFAC (The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture)
Lebanon
read more...
Vincenzo Bugno
PROJECT MANAGER OF WORLD CINEMA FUND
GERMANY
read more...
THE PATHFINDER
The brainchild of MAD Solutions (see above), the ACC was created seven years ago as an umbrella presence at film events to advocate – and where necessary agitate - on behalf of Arab cinema and culture the world over. New co-production opportunities have been forged; new market doorways opened; and new talented career paths launched into orbit. This very magazine is one visible expression of that commitment, and so also are all the new avenues that are opening for Arab projects and filmmakers in countries where not so long ago they were invisible.
What better time and place than Cannes, the annual parade of cinema’s superpowers, to reveal who in the Arab film industry has mattered most in the past twelve months? So here it is, our second GOLDEN 101. Over the following pages you will see names of the hundred talents and entities – plus one extra thrown in for good measure at the end – that the world really needs to know based on our assessment of their recent business history in Arab film. They are not ranked, please note, but ordered alphabetically by first names and grouped together alongside their immediate peers. And just to be clear, the names were all chosen for their recent contributions to Arab-language cinema. Inevitably, more of more of the Arab world’s top talents are being poached by the streaming giants. We recognize this overlap but we have tried to focus on those who matter in the context of the Cannes Film Festival. This also means that the emergent powers from Arab television and digital media will have to wait for future editions when we take measure of their particular contributions to Arab storytelling. Let the debates begin!
the DIRECTORS
ABU BAKR SHAWKY
DIRECTOR
EGYPT
read more...
AMR SALAMA
DIRECTOR & WRITER
EGYPT
read more...
ELIA SULEIMAN
DIRECTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
HAIFAA AL-MANSOUR
DIRECTOR & WRITER
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
HAJOOJ KUKA
DIRECTOR
SUDAN
read more...
HICHAM LASRI
DIRECTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER
MOROCCO
read more...
MARWAN HAMED
DIRECTOR
EGYPT
read more...
MIR-JEAN BOU CHAAYA
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER & EDITOR
LEBANON
read more...
MOHAMED BIN ATIYA
DIRECTOR & WRITER
TUNISIA
read more...
MUAYAD ALAYAN
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER & CINEMATOG-RAPHER
PALESTINE
read more...
NADINE LABAKI
DIRECTOR, ACTRESS & WRITER
LEBANON
read more...
NEJIB BELKADHI
DIRECTOR
TUNISIA
read more...
SAMEH ZOABI
DIRECTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
SOUDADE KAADAN
DIRECTOR
SYRIA
read more...
TALAL DERKI
DIRECTOR
SYRIA
read more...
the writers
AHMED MOURAD
WRITER
EGYPT
read more...
BASSEL GHANDOUR
WRITER & PRODUCER
JORDAN
read more...
RAMI ALAYAN
WRITER & PRODUCER
PALESTINE
read more...
the actors
AHMED EZZ
ACTOR
EGYPT
read more...
AHMED MALEK
ACTOR
EGYPT
read more...
ALI SULIMAN
ACTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
ASSER YASSIN
ACTOR
EGYPT
read more...
DHAFER L’ABIDINE
ACTOR
TUNISIA-UK
read more...
read more...
MOHAMED BAKRI
ACTOR
PALESTINE
SALEH BAKRI
ACTOR
PALESTINE
ADAM BAKRI
ACTOR
PALESTINE
HEND SABRY
ACTRESS
TUNISIA
read more...
HIAM ABBASS
ACTRESS
PALESTINE
read more...
KAIS NASHIF
ACTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
KAMEL EL BASHA
ACTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
KARIM ABDEL AZIZ
ACTOR
EGYPT
read more...
MAISA ABD ELHADI
ACTRESS
PALESTINE
read more...
MENNA SHALABI
ACTRESS
EGYPT
read more...
SABA MUBARAK
ACTRESS & PRODUCER
JORDAN
read more...
YOUSRA
ACTRESS
EGYPT
read more...
the festivals
ELIAS KHLAT
PRODUCER & FOUNDER OF TRIPOLI FILM FESTIVAL
LEBANON
read more...
JAD ABI KHALIL
DIRECTOR OF BEIRUT CINEMA PLATFORM
LEBANON
read more...
MOHAMED KEBLAWI
DIRECTOR OF MALMO
ARAB FILM FESTIVAL & ARAB CINEMA IN SWEDEN
PALESTINE-SWEDEN
read more...
read more...
NAGUIB SAWIRES
FOUNDER OF EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL, IPRODUCTIONS
EGYPT
INTISHAL AL-TAMIMI
MANAGER OF EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL
IRAQ
AMIR RAMSIS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL
EGYPT
NAJIB AYAD
DIRECTOR OF CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL
TUNISIA
read more...
ORWA NYRABIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF
IDFA
SYRIA
read more...
ROSH ABDELFATAH
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | ROTTERDAM ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
SYRIA
read more...
SERGE BAKALIAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARAB FILM FESTIVAL & ARAB FILM AND MEDIA INSTITUTE
LEBANON-USA
read more...
SHIRIN GHAREEB
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WASHINGTON DC INTERNATION AL FILM FESTIVAL AND FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF ARABIAN SIGHTS
US
read more...
read more...
MOHAMED HEFZY
PRESIDENT OF CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF)
EGYPT
YOUSSEF SHERIF
RIZALLA
FILM CRITIC AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF CIFF
EGYPT
AHMED SHAWKY
DEPUTY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
EGYPT
the commissions
read more...
JAMAL AL-SHARIF
CHAIRMAN OF DUBAI STUDIO CITY AND DUBAI FILM COMMISSION
UAE
JASSIM AL NOWAIS
MANAGER OF ABU DHABI FILM COMMISSION
UAE
read more...
PRINCESS RYM ALI
COMMISSIONER, ROYAL FILM COMMISSION OF JORDAN
JORDAN
NADA DOUMANI
COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE PROGRAMING OF RFC
LEBANON
SARIM FASSI FEHRI
DIRECTOR OF MOROCCAN CINEMA CENTER (CCM)
MOROCCO
read more...
the funders
read more...
FATMA AL REMAIHI
CEO OF DOHA FILM INSTITUTE
QATAR
KHALIL BENKIRANE
HEAD OF GRANT UNIT OF DFI
QATAR
RIMA MISMAR
DIRECTOR OF AFAC (THE ARAB FUND FOR ARTS AND CULTURE)
LEBANON
read more...
VINCENZO BUGNO
PROJECT MANAGER OF WORLD CINEMA FUND
GERMANY
read more...
FRANK ALBERS
HEAD OF FILM PRIZE OF ROBERT BOSCH STIFTUNG
GERMANY
read more...
ALESSANDRA SPECIALE
HEAD OF FINAL CUT IN VENICE
ITALY
read more...
MICHEL MERKT
PRODUCER, KNM PRODUCTIONS
SWITZERLAND - MONACO
read more...
the organizations
CHIRAZ LATIRI
GENERAL DIRECTOR OF CNCI (THE NATIONAL CENTER OF CINEMA AND IMAGE)
TUNISIA
read more...
HANNA ATALLAH
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF FILMLAB: PALESTINE
PALESTINE
read more...
MARYAM AL-MHEIRI
CEO OF MEDIA ZONE AUTHORITY - ABU DHABI & TWOFOUR54
UAE
read more...
SAWSAN DARWAZA
CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF AL MA3MAL 612 THINK FACTORY
JORDAN
read more...
read more...
SAM LAHOUD
FOUNDING DIRECTOR & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF
NDU INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
LEBANON
NICOLAS KHABBAZ
FOUNDING DIRECTOR & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF
NDU INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
LEBANON
read more...
MOHAMED ALMUBARAK
CHAIRMAN, IMAGE NATION ABU DHABI
UAE
MICHAEL GARIN
CEO OF IMAGE
NATION ABU DHABI
UAE
BEN ROSS
HEAD OF NARRATIVE FILM AND TELEVISION
UAE
read more...
CHRISTIAN MOUROUX
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LATIN-ARAB FILM FESTIVAL AND LATIN ARAB CO-PRODUCTION FORUM
ARGENTINA
EDGARDO BECHARA
EL KHOURY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ARGENTINA
ZEINA SFEIR
CO-FOUNDER OF BEIRUT DC, PUBLICIST & DIRECTOR
LEBANON
read more...
TALAL AFIFI
CURATOR OF SUDAN FILM FACTORY & PRESIDENT OF SUDAN FILM FESTIVAL
SUDAN
read more...
the gatekeepers
read more...
PRINCE BADR BIN ABDULLAH BIN FAR-
HAN AL SAUD
SAUDI ARABIA’S FIRST MINISTER OF CULTURE
SAUDI ARABIA
FAISAL BALTYUOR
CEO OF SAUDI FILM COUNCIL
SAUDI ARABIA
NOURA AL-KAABI
MINISTER OF CULTURE & KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT
UAE
read more...
the platforms
HADEEL KAMEL
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ART
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
HUSAM SAM ASI
MEMBER OF GOLDEN GLOBES AND TV PRESENTER ON BBC ARABIC
PALESTINE - UK
read more...
LANA ALJUNDI
TV PRESENTER IN SKY
NEWS ARABIA
SYRIA-UAE
read more...
PATRICK TILLIEUX
CEO OF OSN
UAE
read more...
read more...
NICKHIL JAKATDAR
FOUNDER AND CEO OF VUCLIP
SINGAPORE-UAE
ABE SHADY ABOUL NAGA
MENA CHIEF OF VUCLIP
SINGAPORE-UAE
RAYA ABIRACHED
TV PRESENTER
LEBANON
read more...
WALEED BIN IBRAHIM AL IBRAHIM
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF MBC
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
read more...
PRINCE AL WALEED
BIN TALA
OWNER OF ROTANA
MEDIA GROUP
SAUDI ARABIA
TURKI AL-SHABANA
CEO OF ROTANA
SAUDI ARABIA
the producers
ALI AL MARZOUQI
CO-FOUNDER OF
GHABSHA FILMS
UAE
read more...
DORA BOUCHOUCHA
FOUNDER & MANAGER OF NOMADIS IMAGES
TUNISIA
read more...
GEORGES SCHOU-CAIR
FOUNDER AND CEO OF ABBOUT PRODUCTIONS
LEBANON
read more...
HABIB ATTIA
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CINETELEFILMS
TUNISIA
read more...
read more...
MOHAMED HEFZY
WRITER, PRODUCER & PRESIDENT OF CIFF, FOUNDER & MANAGER OF FILM CLINIC
EGYPT
DANIEL ZISKIND
FILM CLINIC REPRESENTATIVE IN EUROPE
FRANCE
RULA NASSER
FOUNDER OF
IMAGINARIUM FILMS
JORDON-CANADA
read more...
SHAHINAZ AKKAD
FOUNDER AND CEO OF LAGOONIE FILM PRODUCTION
EGYPT
read more...
STEVEN MARKOVITZ
PRODUCER
SOUTH AFRICA
read more...
TALAL AL-MUHANNA
FOUNDER AND MANAGER OF LINKED PRODUCTIONS
KUWAIT
read more...
the exhibitors & distributors
ADAM ARON
CEO OF AMC ENTERTAINMENT
USA
read more...
AHMAD GOLCHIN
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF PHARS FILM
UAE
read more...
read more...
ALAA KARKOUTI
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER OF MAD SOLUTIONS
SYRIA - EGYPT
MAHER DIAB
CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER
LEBANON - CANDA
COLIN BROWN
MANAGING PARTNER-INTERNATIONAL
USA
ABDALLAH AL-SHAMI
MANAGING PARTNER-GCC
LEBANON - UAE
BUTHEINA KAZIM
FOUNDER OF CINEMA AKIL
UAE
read more...
read more...
CAMERON MITCHEL
CEO OF VOX CINEMAS
UAE
JACQUES KRUGER
GENERAL MANAGER DISTRIBUTION
UAE
TONI MASSIH
DIRECTOR OF FILM CONTENT AND DISTRIBUTION
UAE
HANIA MROUE
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF METRPOLIS CINEMA AND MC DISTRIBUTION
LEBANON
read more...
HISHAM ABDELKHALEA
AL-MASSA COMPANY
EGYPT
read more...
read more...
HISHAM AL-GHANIM
CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF INTERNATIONAL FILM DISTRIBUTOR
KUWAIT
GIANLUCA CHAKRA
MANAGING PARTNER OF FRONT ROW
LEBANON
MAMDOUH SALEM
CEO OF ROWAD
MEDIA & CINEMA 70
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
read more...
MARIANNE KHOURY
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, DISTRIBUTOR & EXHIBITOR
EGYPT
YOUSSEF SHAZLI
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ZAWYA CINEMA
EGYPT
MARIO G HADDAD
CEO OF EMPIRE INTERNATIONAL
LEBANON
read more...
SELIM RAMIA
CHAIRMAN OF SELIM RAMIA & CO. HOLDING
LEBANON
read more...
SELIM AAZAR
CEO OF GULF FILM
QATAR
read more...
ZAID FADEL
CEO OF IRAQI CINEMAS
IRAQ
read more...
the internationals sales
HEDI ZARDI
CEO OF LUXBOX
FRANCE
read more...
JEAN LATBADIE
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, LE PACTE
FRANCE
read more...
read more...
SARAH CHAZELLE
CO-OWNERS OF JOUR2FETE
FRANCE
ETIENNE OLLANGIER
CO-OWNERS OF JOUR2FETE
FRANCE
read more...
VINCENT GRIMOND
CEO, WILD BUNCH
FRANCE
VINCENT MARAVAL
CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER
FRANCE
the pathfinder
The brainchild of MAD Solutions (see above), the ACC was created five years as an umbrella presence at film events to advocate and where necessary agitate - on behalf of Arab cinema and culture the world over. This very magazine is one visible expression of that commitment, and so also are all the new avenues that are opening for Arab projects and filmmakers in countries where not so long ago they were invisible (read the special tribute in this issue).
What better time and place than Cannes, the annual parade of cinema’s superpowers, to reveal who in the Arab film industry has mattered most in the past twelve months? So here it is, our inaugural CANNES 100. Over the following pages you will see names of the golden hundred talents and entities – plus one extra thrown in for good measure at the end – that the world really needs to know based on our assessment of their recent business history in Arab film. They are not ranked, please note, but ordered alphabetically by first names and grouped together alongside their immediate peers. And just to be clear, for those wondering why someone like Algerian-born Sofia Boutella is not on the list just as she is making a splash on the Croisette with FAHRENHEIT 451, the names were all chosen for their recent contributions to Arab-language cinema. This also means that the emergent powers from Arab television and digital media will have to wait for future editions when we take measure of their particular contributions to Arab storytelling. Let the debates begin!
The 100 Most Important Names in the Arab Film Industry includes industry professionals that either represent themselves or entities they work for. The names were all chosen for their contributions to Arab-language cinema in the past twelve months, which is why Arab names who participated in international films/TV series are not on the list. They are ordered alphabetically by first names and grouped together alongside their immediate peers.
the DIRECTORs
AMR SALAMA
DIRECTOR & WRITER
EGYPT
read more...
ANNEMARIE JACIR
DIRECTOR & WRITER
PALESTINE
read more...
FERAS FAYYAD
DIRECTOR, WRITER & EDITOR
SYRIA
read more...
HAIFAA AL-MANSOUR
DIRECTOR & WRITER
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
HANY ABU-ASSAD
DIRECTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER
PALESTINE
read more...
HICHAM LASRI
DIRECTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER
MOROCCO
read more...
KAOUTHER BEN HANIA
DIRECTOR & WRITER
TUNISIA
read more...
MARWAN HAMED
DIRECTOR
EGYPT
read more...
MAHDI FLEIFEL
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER & CINEMATOGRAPHER
LEBANON-PALESTINE
read more...
MIR-JEAN BOU CHAAYA
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER & EDITOR
LEBANON
read more...
MOHAMED AL DARRADJI
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER, EDITOR & CINEMATOGRAPHER
IRAQ
read more...
MOHAMED BEN ATTIA
DIRECTOR & WRITER
TUNISIA
read more...
MUAYAD ALAYAN
DIRECTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER & CINEMATOGRAPHER
PALESTINE
read more...
NABIL AYOUCH
DIRECTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER
MOROCCO
read more...
NADINE LABAKI
DIRECTOR, ACTRESS & WRITER
LEBANON
read more...
RAED ANDONI
DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
PALESTINE
read more...
RASHID MASHARAWI
DIRECTOR, WRITER & PRODUCER
PALESTINE
read more...
ZIAD DOUEIRI
DIRECTOR AND WRITER
LEBANON
read more...
the writers
AHMED AMER
WRITER & DIRECTOR
EGYPT
read more...
BASSEL GHANDOUR
WRITER & PRODUCER
JORDAN
read more...
RAMI ALAYAN
WRITER & PRODUCER
PALESTINE
read more...
the Gatekeepers
read more...
MOHAMED BIN SALMAN
CROWN PRINCE, SAUDI ARABIA
SAUDI ARABIA
AHMED BIN AQEEL AL-KHATIB
CHAIRMAN OF THE GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT AUTHORITY
SAUDI ARABIA
NOURA AL-KAABI
MINISTER OF CULTURE & KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT
U.A.E
read more...
the Actors
ADEL KARAM
TV PRESENTER & ACTOR
LEBANON
read more...
ALI SULIMAN
ACTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
read more...
MOHAMMAD BAKRI
ACTOR
PALESTINE
SALEH BAKRI
ACTOR
PALESTINE
ADAM BAKRI
ACTOR
PALESTINE
ASHRAF BARHOM
ACTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
DIAMAND ABOU ABBOUD
ACTRESS
LEBANON
read more...
DHAFER L’ABIDINE
ACTOR
TUNISIA - UK
read more...
HIAM ABBASS
ACTRESS
PALESTINE
read more...
KAMEL EL BASHA
ACTOR
PALESTINE
read more...
MAISA ABD ELHADI
ACTRESS
PALESTINE
read more...
MENNA SHALABY
ACTRESS
EGYPT
read more...
SABA MUBARAK
ACTRESS & PRODUCER
JORDAN
read more...
YASMIN RAEIS
ACTRESS
EGYPT
read more...
the PRODUCERs
AYMAN JAMAL
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR & WRITER
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
DORA BOUCHOUCHA
FOUNDER & MANAGER OF NOMADIS IMAGES
TUNISIA
read more...
GEORGES SCHOUCAIR
FOUNDER AND CEO OF ABBOUT PRODUCTIONS
LEBANON
read more...
HABIB ATTIA
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CINETELEFILMS
TUNISIA
read more...
read more...
DANIEL ZISKIND
FILM CLINIC REPRESENTATIVE IN EUROPE
FRANCE
MOHAMED HEFZY
Writer, Producer, Festival President of CIFF & FOUNDER MANAGER OF FILM CLINIC
EGYPT
HANI OSAMA
CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE PRODUCERS
EGYPT
read more...
ROMAN PAUL
CO-FOUNDER OF RAZOR FILM PRODUKTION
GERMANY
read more...
RULA NASSER
FOUNDER OF THE IMAGINARIUM FILMS
JORDAN - CANADA
read more...
TALAL AL-MUHANNA
FOUNDER AND MANAGER OF LINKED PRODUCTIONS
KUWAIT
read more...
the festivals
read more...
ABDULHAMID JUMA
PRESIDENT OF DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (DIFF)
U.A.E
MASOUD AMRALLA AL ALI
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (DIFF)
U.A.E
SHIVANI PANDYA
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (DIFF)
U.A.E
ANTOINE KHALIFE
DIRECTOR OF ARAB PROGRAMMING AT DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (DIFF)
LEBANON
ELIAS KHLAT
PRODUCER & FOUNDER OF TRIPOLI FILM FESTIVAL
LEBANON
read more...
JAD ABI KHALIL
DIRECTOR OF BEIRUT CINEMA PLATFORM
LEBANON
read more...
MAMDOUH SALEM
CEO OF ROWAD MEDIA & CINEMA 70
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
MOHAMED KEBLAWI
DIRECTOR OF MALMO ARAB FILM FESTIVAL & ARAB CINEMA IN SWEDEN
PALESTINE-SWEDEN
read more...
read more...
NAGUIB SAWIRES
FOUNDER OF EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL & IPRODUCTIONS
EGYPT
INTISHAL AL-TAMIMI
MANAGER OF EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL
IRAQ
NAJIB AYAD
DIRECTOR OF CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL
TUNISIA
read more...
ORWA NYRABIA
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL AMSTERDAM (IDFA)
SYRIA
read more...
ROSH ABDELFATAH
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF ROTTERDAM ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
SYRIA
read more...
SERGE BAKALIAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARAB FILM FESTIVAL & ARAB FILM AND MEDIA INSTITUTE
LEBANON - U.S.A
read more...
SHIRIN GHAREEB
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WASHINGTON DC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & FESTIVAL DIRECTOR OF ARABIAN SIGHTS
U.S.A
read more...
YOUSSEF CHERIF RIZKALLAH
FILM CRITIC & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF CAIRO FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF)
EGYPT
read more...
the exhibitors and distributors
Ahmad Golchin
Founder and Director of Phars Film
U.A.E
read more...
Hania Mroue
Founder and Director of Metropolis and CEO of MC Distribution
LEBANON
read more...
read more...
Alaa Karkouti
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MAD Solutions
SYRIA - EGYPT
Maher Diab
Co-founder and Managing Partner
LEBANON - CANADA
Colin Brown
Managing Partner-International
U.S.A
Abdallah Al-Shami
Managing Partner-GCC
LEBANON - U.A.E
read more...
Cameron Mitchell
CEO of VOX Cinemas
U.A.E
Jacques Kruger
General Manager
U.A.E
Toni Massih
Director of Film Content and Distribution
U.A.E
read more...
Hisham Al-Ghanim
Chairman and CEO of International Film Distributor
KUWAIT
Gianluca Chakra
Managing Partner of Front Row
LEBANON
Mario G. Haddad
CEO of Empire International
LEBANON
read more...
read more...
Marianne Khoury
Producer, Director, Distributor and Exhibitor
EGYPT
Youssef Shazli
Managing Director of Zawya Cinema
EGYPT
Selim Ramia
Chairman of Selim Ramia & Co. Holding
LEBANON
read more...
Selim Aazar
CEO of Gulf Film
QATAR
read more...
Zaid Fadel
CEO of Iraqi Cinemas
IRAQ
read more...
the Platforms
read more...
Al Waleed bin Talal
Owner of Rotana Media Group
SAUDI ARABIA
Turki Al-Shabana
CEO of Rotana
SAUDI ARABIA
Hadeel Kamel
Managing Director of ART
SAUDI ARABIA
read more...
Martin Stuart
CEO of OSN
U.A.E
read more...
read more...
Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim
Founder and Chairman of MBC
SAUDI ARABIA
Raya Abirached
TV Presenter
LEBANON
Husam Sam Asi
Member of Golden Globes and TV Presenter on BBC Arabic
PALESTINE - UK
read more...
Lana Al Jundi
TV Presenter in Sky News Arabia
SYRIA - U.A.E
read more...
the funders
read more...
Fatma Al Remaihi
CEO of Doha Film Institute
QATAR
Khalil Benkirane
Head of Grant Unit of DFI
QATAR
Abdel Muttalib Al Hammadi
Deputy Chairman of the Ministry of Interior’s Cinema Awards (MOICA)
U.A.E
read more...
Rima Mismar
Director of AFAC (The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture)
LEBANON
read more...
Vincenzo Bugno
Project Manager of World Cinema Fund
GERMANY
read more...
Frank Albers
Head of Film Prize of Robert Bosch Stiftung
GERMANY
read more...
Alessandra Speciale
Head of Final Cut in Venice
ITALY
read more...
michel merkt
Producer, KNM Productions
SWITZERLAND - MONACO
read more...
the Commissions
read more...
Jamal Al-Sharif
Chairman of Dubai Studio City and Dubai Film Commission
U.A.E
Jassim Al Nowais
Manager of Abu Dhabi Film Commission
U.A.E
read more...
Princess Rym Ali
Commissioner, Royal Film Commission of Jordan
JORDAN
George David
Managing Director of RFC
JORDAN
Nada Doumani
Communication and Culture Programing of RFC
LEBANON
Sarim Fassi Fihri
Director of Moroccan Cinema Center (CCM)
MOROCCO
read more...
the internationals Sales
Eric Lagesse
CEO of Pyramide
FRANCE
read more...
Francois Morisset
Head of Salaud Morisset
FRANCE AND GERMANY
read more...
Frederic Corvez
President and Founder of Urban Distribution International
FRANCE
read more...
Hedi Zardi
CEO of Luxbox
FRANCE
read more...
read more...
Sarah Chazelle
Co-Owner of Jour2Fete
FRANCE
Etienne Ollangier
Co-Owner of Jour2Fete
FRANCE
Ida Martins
CEO of Media Luna
GERMANY
read more...
read more...
Vincent Grimond
CEO of Wild Bunch
FRANCE
Vincent Maraval
Chief Content Officer of Wild Bunch
FRANCE
the Organizations
Chiraz Latiri
General Director of CNCI (The National Center of Cinema and Image) 
TUNISIA
read more...
Huda Kanoo
Founder of ADMAF (Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation
U.A.E
read more...
Hanna Atallah
Artistic Director of FilmLab: Palestine
PALESTINE
read more...
Maryam Al-Mheiri
CEO of Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi and twofour54
U.A.E
read more...
Sawsan Darwaza
creative director of Al Ma3mal 612 Think Factory
JORDAN
read more...
Talal Afifi
Curator of Sudan Film Factory and President of Sudan Film Festival 
SUDAN
read more...
read more...
Sam Lahoud
Founding Director and Artistic Director of NDU International Film Festival
LEBANON
Nicolas Khabbaz
Founding Director and Artistic Director of NDU International Film Festival
LEBANON
read more...
Mohamed Al Mubarak
Chairman, Image Nation Abu Dhabi
U.A.E
Michael Garin
CEO
U.A.E
Ben Ross
Head of Narrative Film and Television
U.A.E
Zeina Sfeir
Co-Founder of Beirut DC and Artistic Director of Beirut Cinema Days
LEBANON
read more...
read more...
Edgardo Bechara El Khoury
Executive Director
ARGENTINA
Christian Mouroux
Managing Director of Latin-Arab Film Festival and Latin Arab Co-Production Forum
ARGENTINA
the Pathfinder
The brainchild of MAD Solutions (see above), the ACC was created as an umbrella presence at film events to advocate – and where necessary agitate - on behalf of Arab cinema and culture the world over. This very magazine is one visible expression of that commitment, and so also are all the new avenues that are opening for Arab projects and filmmakers in countries where not so long ago they were invisible.