Arab Cinema Shines at Cannes: Unprecedented Presence and Acclaim on the Croisette

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This year, Arab cinema and its figures are prominently present at the Cannes Film Festival’s 78th edition, which began on Tuesday, receiving much attention on the famous Croisette.

To illustrate: Qatar’s movie sector is preparing for its largest-ever showing on the Croisette, according to industry experts. This timing seems significant as the Arab Cinema Center (ACC) will award its sixth Arab Cinema Personality of the Year during the event to Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, CEO of Qatar’s Doha Film Institute, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to boosting the Qatari, Arab, and international film industries.

As a gaming enthusiast, it’s my turn to cheer for Egypt! I’m thrilled to be back on the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard list after nine years. My significant role in regional film production and distribution has finally come into focus, putting me under the spotlight in a panel titled “Egypt: Arab World’s Blockbuster Nation.” Organized by the Marché du Film and ACC, it’s an honor to be acknowledged as the heart of filmmaking across the Arab world.

Simultaneously, Charlie Polinger’s initial film titled “The Plague” will make its world debut in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes, marking Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s first movie to be showcased in one of the two main sections of Cannes. Produced under its collaboration with Spooky Pictures, as well as producers Hellcat, The Space Program, and Joel Edgerton’s Five Henrys, this psychological horror film narrates the tale of a 12-year-old boy trying to navigate the brutal social hierarchy at an all-boys water polo summer camp.

For Image Nation Abu Dhabi, this is a significant milestone, as CEO Ben Ross shares with THR. “We’re thrilled to be able to attend Cannes with a film,” he expresses. “I’m certain it will offer a unique experience.

Palestinian cinema is poised to gain recognition on the Croisette as well. It will be highlighted during a market session, while the revenge thriller “Once Upon a Time in Gaza,” directed by twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser, will be screened in the Un Certain Regard section.

As a gamer, I’m excited to share that the powerful documentary by Sepideh Farsi, titled “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk“, featuring Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona and her captivating work documenting life in Gaza, is set to screen at ACID (Association for the Distribution of Independent Cinema) during the Cannes festival. Unfortunately, Fatma and several members of her family were recently taken by an Israeli air strike, a tragedy that has saddened the Cannes fest deeply. The screening of this movie will serve not only as a testament to the film’s message but also as a tribute to the memory of the courageous Fatma Hassona.

During a press conference at Cannes on Tuesday, the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict became the main topic when jury president Juliette Binoche was questioned about a letter she hadn’t signed. The letter, published on Monday night and supported by celebrities like Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, and Javier Bardem, stated: “In Cannes, the plight of Gaza should not be ignored.” Binoche acknowledged that she didn’t sign the letter but declined to explain her reasons, merely hinting: “Perhaps you’ll comprehend it better in time.

As a gamer, I’m excited to share that Egypt will be making quite an impact at Cannes this year, and not just in one way. In the category of Un Certain Regard, Morad Mostafa, an Egyptian director, presents his moving co-production, Aisha Can’t Fly Away. This powerful story revolves around a Muslim Somali migrant working as a caregiver in Cairo, navigating the complex tensions between various African and Egyptian communities competing for control of her neighborhood. Egypt’s return to this section after almost a decade is being celebrated as a significant achievement for Egyptian cinema, marking it as a triumphant breakthrough.

This year, I’m thrilled to see my beloved Sweden taking part in the competition roster. A Swedish director named Tarik Saleh, a man with roots deeply embedded in both Sweden and Egypt, is set to grace the Croisette with his highly anticipated film “Eagles of the Republic“. This captivating production follows the story of a fictional Egyptian actor who faces trouble with the authorities.

Jordan is currently drawing attention due to the unveiling of an upgraded financial incentives program by the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, which was announced at Cannes earlier this week. This new scheme offers a cash rebate ranging from 25% to 45% for eligible film and TV productions, replacing the previous 25% cap. If a project’s production expenditure exceeds $10 million and includes Jordanian cultural aspects, it can qualify for the maximum 45% rebate. For local productions spending over $500,000, the rebate has been increased from 10% to 30%. This move is part of a larger strategy aimed at boosting Jordanian producers and stimulating the domestic production industry. The existing extra financial benefits such as sales tax and customs duty exemptions continue to apply.

Mohannad Al-Bakri, director of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, stated that the amendments are designed to strengthen Jordan’s position as a leading film production center within the region. This is achieved by establishing an encouraging atmosphere that encourages creativity, offers solid infrastructure, and encourages knowledge sharing and expertise exchange. Furthermore, these changes aim to stimulate film tourism by showcasing Jordan’s unique locations and emphasizing its cultural heritage in international productions.

Movies filmed in Jordan over the last six decades include “Dune Parts 1 & 2”, “The Martian”, “John Wick”, and “Aladdin”. As the country’s film commission emphasized, Jordan has been a popular destination for international and regional film and television productions since the release of “Lawrence of Arabia” over half a century ago.

This year, another region in the Arab world participating at Cannes is Northwest Africa, specifically the Maghreb. The French-Tunisian director Erige Sehiri launches the Un Certain Regard section on Wednesday with Promised Sky, a movie centered around an unusual family consisting of various women in Tunis. Additionally, Hafsia Herzi, a French director whose parents are Algerian and Tunisian, will present her coming-of-age drama The Little Sister, which explores the challenges of a young woman trying to balance two cultures at Cannes, where it will vie for the Palme d’Or.

For the first time this year, Qatar is anticipated to make a significant presence at Cannes, as suggested by an industry expert. Specifically, Hassan Al Thawadi, who previously managed the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and is now involved in fostering the film industry’s expansion, will be spearheading a delegation that includes executives from Media City Qatar and a newly established film committee on their way to Cannes.

The Qatari delegation, it’s said, consists of members from the Film Committee at Media City Qatar and the in-house team from Katara Studios in Doha. (e.g., Orca, series The Pact)

The impact of Qatar’s Doha Film Institute and its financial backing can be seen in the Directors’ Fortnight, an independent section running concurrently with the Cannes festival. Notably, this segment will feature the world premiere of “The President’s Cake“, a film written and directed by Iraq’s Hasan Hadi in his first directorial endeavor. The movie’s central character is likely to resonate beyond the Arab world. This is because it narrates the tale of a young girl who is assigned the challenging task of baking a birthday cake for none other than Saddam Hussein.

Currently, Saudi Arabia is making strides and creating a stir. Shivani Pandya-Malhotra, managing director of the Red Sea Film Foundation that oversees the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, along with its chair Jomana Al-Rashid, are some of the nation’s representatives attending the Cannes film festival.

Once again, Film AlUla, the organization responsible for promoting and nurturing film and television productions while preserving the beauty of the AlUla region, is attending Cannes Film Festival for the fifth consecutive year. Some of the movies they’ve been involved with include Norah, Cherry, Kandahar, K-Pops, and Siwar.

At Cannes Film Festival, a key milestone on our annual event schedule and one of our most fruitful markets, Zaid Shaker, acting executive director, shares with THR, “This festival is not just a stop but a significant stepping stone for us. Our team will be stationed at the Saudi Pavilion, inviting attendees to explore the stunning vistas of AlUla using our captivating Virtual Reality experience. As Saudi Arabia ascends in global film relevance, Film AlUla takes great pride in spearheading this change, promoting regional narratives, drawing international productions, and nurturing filmmakers at every phase of their journey.

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2025-05-15 06:25