TWELVE-MONTH HIGHLIGHT(S):
Founded in 2005, and following the official return of movie-going in the Kingdom,
Mamdouh has turned Rowad into a burgeoning distribution home for independent Arab films. In 2022, Rowad distributed the
Jordanian films DAUGHTERS OF ABDERAHMAN and THE ALLEYS, along with the Saudi 90 DAYS and WOMAN'S LIFE and
Slovenian THE SPACE AMONG US.
MAMDOUH SALEM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of Rowad Media
SAUDI
What character do you identify with?
I hope to be like the director Mustafa El-Akkad.
Who’s your hero?
Tom Cruise.
What’s the industry’s most troubling trend?
AI.
2024 will be the year that MENA finally does what?
Wins an Oscar.
What was your first job?
Software engineer.
What’s your secret daily habit or guilty pleasure?
Watching movies from all over the world.
What’s the last great show or film you watched?
LUTHER.
What would have been your dream job if you didn’t end up doing
what you’re doing?
A Piot.
