CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
A film, television,
and theater director who lives and works in
Yemen. He was born in 1983 in Poland and grew
up there before moving to Aden in 1989, where
he graduated from the University of Aden. In
2005, Gamal established the Khaleej Aden
Theater Troupe and has written and directed all
of its productions since.
TWELVE-MONTH HIGHLIGHT(S):
His
debut feature THE BURDENED, based on a true
story of a Yemeni family in the city of Aden
struggling with the economic crisis and the civil
war, won the Grand Prize at the Karlovy Vary
Film Festival in the Works in Progress category
and premiered at the Berlinale, where it won two
awards
Who’s your hero?
My Family.
What’s the industry’s most troubling trend?
Social media influencing and controlling industry decisions.
2024 will be the year that MENA finally does what?
More MENA countries step into the global cinema scene.
What was your first job?
Theater Writer/Director.
What’s your secret daily habit or guilty pleasure?
SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE.
What’s the last great show or film you watched?
THE QUIET GIRL.
What would have been your dream job if you didn’t end up doing what you’re doing?
A Teacher.
