Introducing this year’s Golden 101 — inspired by the famous Palme d'Or from Cannes — the 25th Arab Cinema Magazine is showcasing the personalities that have made the largest impact in Arab filmmaking over the past year.
The Golden 101 features a mix of talents and organizations that have contributed the most to Arab cinema in the last year. These individuals and groups are listed together in different categories, like directors, producers, actors, distributors, and more.
Egypt leads the list with 41 entries, followed by Lebanon (20), Saudi Arabia (16), Palestine (12), Jordan (10), Tunisia (9), the UAE, Kuwait,Qatar and Sudan (3 each), and the rest from the UK (3), Morocco (2), Syria (2), the US (2), Italy (2), and one each from Iraq, Somalia, South Africa, Russia, France, Australia, and India.
The list highlights a diverse group of film professionals, including 18 producers, 14 directors, 12 actors, 13 distributors from 10 different companies, 10 crew members from behind the camera, nine enablers, eight festival executives, eight VOD platform leaders, five funding institutions, three NGOs, and three arthouse organizations.
Leading the Golden 101 list is Egypt, Which boasts a strong presence with prominent stars such as Youssra, Hussein Fahmy (President of the Cairo International Film Festival), Ahmed Ezz, Ahmed Malek, Hesham Maged, Laila Elwi, and Nour El Nabawy. Behind the scenes are Mohamed Hefzy (Film Clinic), Tarek Alarian, Tamer Morsy (Synergy Films), Ahmed Amer (A. A. Films), Tarek El Ganainy, Heba Yousry, Ayman El Amir, Nada Riyad, Safy Eldin Mahmoud (RED STAR), Ahmed Fahmy and Hany Naguib (SEA CINEMA), Hala Lotfy (Hassala), Kesmat El Sayed (SEERA Films), Mohamed Said Abdel Rahim (Cairo Industry Days), Amr Mansi, Marian Khoury, Andrew Mohsen, Ahmed Shawky, Mariam Naoum, Abdel Salam Moussa, Mostafa El Kashef, Salah El Gehiny, Hesham Nazih, Wael Hamdy, Heba Othman, Gaby Khoury, Ramzy Khoury (Misr International Films), Tarek Nour (United Media Services), Nashwa Gad El-Hak (WATCH IT), Youssef El Shazly (Zawya), Alia Zaki, and the MAD Solutions Co-Founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab, along with Kareem Samy (MAD Celebrity).
Lebanon ranks second with 20 notable names including Raya Abirached, Diamand Abou Abboud, Joe Kawkabani (OSN), Rola Karam (OSN), George Schoucair (Abbout Productions), Antoine Khalife (RSIFF), Rema Mismar and Soli Gharbiyeh (AFAC), Roger Abou Hedar (Film Gulf), Mario and Mario Jr. Haddad (Empire International), Gianluca Chakra (Front Row), Ignace Lahoud (Majid Al Futtaim Cinemas), Hamad Atassi (City Cinema), Selim Ramia, Jad Abi Khalil (Aflamna), Hania Mroue (Metropolis), director Reem Shuaib, cinematographer Christopher Aoun, and sound designer Rana Eid.
Saudi Arabia maintains a strong presence with director Abdulaziz Al-Shalahi, producer Baho Baksh (RED STAR), Jumana Al-Rashid(Red Sea Foundation), Zain Zidan (Red Sea Market), Imad Iskandar (Red Sea Film Fund), Waleed Al-Ibrahim (MBC Group), Hadeel Kamel (ART), Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Princess Lamia bint Majid Al Saud (Rotana), Mohamed Bin Fayez Wafa (Rotana Studios - Egypt), Abdullah Al-Rashed (Ithra), Turki Al-Sheikh (GEA), Abdullah Al-Qahtani (Film Commission), Faisal Baltyour (CineWaves & CEO of the Red Sea Foundation), Sultan Al-Hokair (muvi Cinemas), and Reda Al-Haidar (Roaa Media Ventures).
From the UAE, the list features writer and filmmaker Butheina Kazim (founder and director of Cinema Akil). From Kuwait, the recognized names include Sheikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabah (Chairwoman of OSN) and Hisham Al-Ghanem (CEO of Cinescape). Qatar is represented by Fatma Al Remaihi (CEO of the Doha Film Institute), Hanaa Issa (Director of Film Funding Programs), and Yousef Al Obaidly (CEO of beIN Media Group)
Jordan makes a strong contribution with 10 notable figures, including Amjad Al Rasheed, Suad Bushnaq, Rula Nasser, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, and Princess Rym Ali (RFC), Mohannad Al Bakri (RFC), Nada Doumani (Amman International Film Festival), Bassam Al Asaad (Amman Film Industry Days), Samar Akrouk (MBC), and Moayyad Deeb (Metafora).
Tunisia brings nine names led by Hend Sabri and Dhafer L’Abidine, along with Adam Bessa, Faysal Hsairi (Metafora), Lamia Belkaied Guiga (CNCI), Hedi Zardi (Atlas Workshops), composer Amine Bouhafa, producer Dora Bouchoucha, and Habib Attia. Also, from Morocco: director/producer Khalil Ben kirane and Abdelaziz Bouzdaini (CCM).
Palestine is represented by 12 personalities including Kamel El Basha, Basel Adra, Hamdan Bilal, Sherin Dabis, Layla Abbas, Maha Haj, Mahdi Fleifel, Mohamed El-Mughanni, Scandar Copti, Rashid Masharawi, Mohamed Qablawi, and Alaa Salama (FilmLab Palestine).
Additional influential names include Ameer Fakher El-Din (Syria), Arwa Nairabiya (Syria), Zaid Jawad (Iraq), Mohamed Alomda, Amjad Abu Alala, and Noha El Tayeb (Sudan/Netflix), Mo Harawe (Somalia), Natasha Matos Hemingway (South Africa), Roman Shemansky (Russia/Yango Play), Remi Bonhomme (France), Adon Quinn (Australia), Sam Barnett and Mia Edde (UK/beIN), Mahsa Moatamedy (Film AlUla), Colin Brown (UK/MAD Solutions), Shivani Pandya Malhotra (India), Lacy Toh and Marco Orsini (US/IEFTA), Vincenzo Bugno and Alessandra Speciale (Italy/Final Cut Venice).
From May 2024 to April 2025, these individuals and institutions have helped move Arab cinema forward, whether by making films, organizing festivals, closing important deals, or supporting new talent. Each one earned their place through genuine impact.
For the full Golden 101, check it out on https://acc.film/cannes-100.php
About the Arab Cinema Center
The ACC was established by MAD Solutions in 2015 as an international promotional and networking platform for Arab cinema. Registered as a non-profit organization in Berlin, the ACC provides its partner companies with a visible presence at all major film festivals and markets, connecting them with industry professionals, organizing events, and publishing special editions of the Arab Cinema Magazine.
The center also offers a newsletter service that provides digital copies of the magazine, updates on events, and news about Arab films at festivals. Additionally, the ACC's website features the Arab Cinema Guide, a helpful resource that supports global access to Arab cinema and makes it easier for international professionals to discover Arab films.
Website:acc.film
