CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
Before his sky-rocketing breakthrough in the Arab World, L'Abidine enjoyed a successful career in international productions, such as SEX AND THE CITY 2, BLACK FOREST, THE LOOMING TOWER, and THE EDDY.
In 2021, he made his directorial debut with the Tunisian film GHODWA, which premiered at the 43rd CIFF — where it won a FIPRESCI prize — was released on Netflix, and earned him Best Actor at the Arab Film Festival Rotterdam. He has since starred in the Egyptian action film, THE SPIDER, and enjoyed great success in three seasons of BEIRUT’S BRIDE on MBC.
The third edition of the RSIFF witnessed the premiere of two of Dhafer’s films: His Saudi-set feature TO MY SON, in which he starred, wrote, directed, and co-produced with MBC Studios; and the remake of the 1973 classic film A NOSE AND THREE EYES, directed by Amir Ramses and written by Wael Hamdy.
He’s the first Arab actor to be named brand ambassador of Cartier, an association arranged by MAD Celebrity in collaboration with the French luxury brand.

TWELVE-MONTH HIGHLIGHT(S):
SOPHIA: Dhafer’s third feature as a director and writer, starring an international cast that includes DOWNTON ABBEY’s Jessica Brown Findlay, wrapped shooting in December 2024.
PALESTINE 36: Directed by Annemarie Jacir, Dhafer’s upcoming project is a hot-button epic about Palestine’s 1936 revolt against British colonial rule, featuring a high-profile international cast that includes Jeremy Irons, Hiam Abbas, and Kamel El-Basha. The film is set to release theatrically in late 2025 following a festival launch.
FINDING OLA: Dhafer played an Egyptian French hunk in the second season of the Netflix original rom-com series alongside Hend Sabri.