Nour Arida Represents Arab Women at Celine's Big Return to the Runway
Wearing a full Celine look, Arida was one of the few international figures invited to the show. A defining voice for Arab women, Arida's presence carried a quiet power, symbolizing both representation and resonance.
'Being here is more than just fashion. It's a matter of representation for me. Representing Arab women on the international scene.Also, Celine's new creative director Michael's mom is Lebanese. So that's a double win'.
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Amman International Film Festival announces winners of sixth edition
This year's selection spotlighted films that boldly defy convention, where characters live beyond the page and stories emerge from the unpredictability, chaos and raw beauty of real life. The sixth edition of the Amman International Film Festival (Awal Film) wrapped up with an awards ceremony held at the Hussein Cultural Centre in the Jordanian capital. The evening, attended by Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and Princess Rym Ali, the festival's President and co-founder, marked the end of nine days filled with screenings, cross-cultural dialogue and the celebration of bold and unconventional storytelling. This year's theme, A World Unscripted , spotlighted films that challenge cinematic conventions, embracing narratives that unfold with raw authenticity and emotional depth. The festival paid tribute to creativity, vision, and the power of storytelling by recognising outstanding films from across the Arab world and beyond. A special highlight of this edition was the Republic of Ireland's designation as Country of Honour, with a dedicated showcase of Irish cinema. Acclaimed Irish filmmaker Jim Sheridan was welcomed as the guest of the 'First & Latest' segment, adding further prestige to the program. Across the nine-day event, 62 films from 23 countries were screened, including 16 world premieres. Filmmaker panels and industry discussions drew diverse audiences from Jordan and abroad, emphasising the festival's growing regional and international presence. The closing night honoured excellence in four categories—Arab Feature-Length Narratives, Documentaries, Shorts and Non-Arab Films. In the Arab Feature Narrative category, Red Path by Lotfi Achour (Tunisia) received the Black Iris Award, while Mahdi Fleifel's To a Land Unknown (Palestine) earned both the Jury Award and Audience Award. Jordanian filmmaker Tamara Owais received special mention for her debut script Simsim, alongside first-time lead actor and actress recognitions for Ali Helali, Azzam Ahmed and Saja Kilani. In the documentary section, the Black Iris Award was jointly awarded to (Y)our Mother by Samira El Mouzghibati (Morocco) and We Are Inside by Farah Kassem (Lebanon). Rand Beiruty's Tell Them About Us (Lebanon) secured the Jury and Audience Awards, while Bassam Mortada's Abu Zaabal 89 (Egypt) received both a Special Mention and the FIPRESCI Award. The Arab Short Film Black Iris went to A Passing Day'by Rasha Shahin (Egypt–Syria) and Your Excellency by Musaed Alqudifi (Kuwait) won the Audience Award. Among non-Arab films, Sarah Friedland's Familiar Touch (USA) won the Black Iris, while the Czech animated film Tales From the Magic Garden took home the Audience Award. The short film The Ant That Crossed My Sketchbook by Chris Akoury was screened during the ceremony, capping off a festival that not only celebrated cinematic artistry but also reaffirmed the power of storytelling to connect people across borders. Organisers extended gratitude to the filmmakers, audiences, and partners who have helped anchor the festival in its cultural context while opening it to the world. Looking ahead, the Amman Film Festival is already preparing for its next edition, aiming to build on its achievements with broader programming and deeper collaborations.
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In his words: Great quotes from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is celebrating his 76th birthday on Tuesday, July 15. Besides leading the city, the Ruler of Dubai is a poet and has a way with words, which clearly shows in his speeches, and every so often, we also get to see it in his words on his official social media posts. To celebrate, we are sharing some of the greatest quotes by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum On Sheikh Zayed Sheikh Zayed | Photo credit: Zayed National Museum 'Sheikh Zayed was not one to believe in limitations; this is one of the traits of a true leader.' 'Generous by nature and compassionate at heart, such is Sheikh Khalifa.' 'Sheikh Zayed was generous with his time and love, and, in return, people loved him irrespective of their differences.' *Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi to open in December 2025* On Arab history 'Arab civilization once played a great role in contributing to human knowledge, and will play that role again.' On 'luck' (PS. There is no such thing as luck in Sheikh Mohammed's vocabulary…) 'The closest thing to luck we have ever had is the fighting spirit and love of a challenge that runs in our blood.' 'They say that luck smiled at Dubai; I say that they want to undermine and devalue your efforts, they attribute your success to luck.' 'Positive people know that luck does not make them, they make their luck.' On leadership HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai 'A great leader creates more great leaders and does not reduce the institution to a single person.' 'The fastest way to happiness is by instilling happiness in the hearts of others.' 'There is no true leader who does not thank the people, and any leader who does not thank their team is not worthy of his or her position.' 'The positive leader is the one who can tame the lion inside him or herself, be humble before people, and always attribute success to their team.' 'The greatest accomplishment of leadership is not measured in monetary targets, but in the positive impact the lader has on his or her people.' On tolerance 'Tolerance increases strength and resilience and helps establish a global cohesive society.' 'Tolerance is no catchphrase, but a quality we must cherish and practice. It must be woven into the fabric of our society to safeguard our future and maintain the progress we have made.' 'What makes us proud of our United Arab Emirates is not the height of our buildings, the breadth of our streets, or the magnitude of our shopping malls, but rather the openness and tolerance of our nation.' On technology and Artificial Intelligence 'Technology is the rapid gateway to the future.' Speaking on the introduction of AI as a subject in school, 'Our responsibility is to equip our children for a time unlike ours, with conditions different from ours, and with new skills and capabilities that ensure the continued momentum of development and progress in our nation for decades to come.' On the future of Dubai 'Over the past 50 years, we started from the desert of our land to the desert of Mars. Our dreams will be even bigger for the next 50 years.' 'Our vision is clear, our road is paved, and the clock is ticking. There is no time for hesitation or half-baked goals or solutions. Development is an ongoing process, and the race for excellence has no finish line.' 'An Arab official once asked me about the target the UAE wanted to achieve from launching the first Arab probe to Mars. I told him: we want to send a message of hope to 350 million Arabs that we are capable of reclaiming our future.' 'We may not live for hundreds of years, but the products of our creativity can leave a legacy long after we are gone.' 'We will continue without halt or rest, for halting is a waste of time.' On dreaming big 'Impossible is a word used by some people who fear to dream big.' 'They say the sky is the limit for ambition. We say: the sky is only the beginning.' 'Does running water stop when it reaches a rock? Of course not. It turns either left or right and continues on its way. Likewise, a positive person is confident that no challenge will stand in the way of achieving his or her goal.' 'We are no less than number one. Whoever convinces himself that he is not worthy of first position has doomed himself to failure from the very beginning.' 'We do not want an airport for Dubai; we want Dubai to be an airport for the world.' Happy Birthday, Sheikh Mohammed! – For many more thoughts and ideas from HH Sheikh Mohammed, pick up Flashes of Wisdom , which is in both Arabic and English . Available in most major bookshops now and on for Dhs65.
Broadcast Pro
15 hours ago
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Zawya Cinema to release Palestinian film ‘To A Land Unknown' on July 16
Writer-director Mahdi Fleifel's second feature follows two immigrants in Athens as they struggle by any means necessary to escape their circumstances. Zawya Cinema has announced the upcoming release of To A Land Unknown, a Palestinian film by director Mahdi Fleifel, on July 16 as part of the eighth edition of Cairo Cinema Days. The screening marks the film's arrival in Egypt after a wide theatrical rollout across the Arab world, including in Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, the UAE, Palestine and Jordan. The 2024 drama made its world premiere at the 77th Cannes International Film Festival, where it was featured in the Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) section. Since then, the film has travelled an extensive international festival circuit, screening at over 100 events and collecting more than 20 awards, with over 40 theatrical releases globally. To A Land Unknown is directed and co-written by Mahdi Fleifel, alongside writers Fyzal Boulifa and Jason McColgan. The film stars Mahmood Bakri and Aram Sabbah as Chatila and Reda, two Palestinian refugees stranded in Athens after fleeing a refugee camp in Lebanon. Desperate to reach Germany, they struggle to survive on the fringes of society, scraping together money to purchase fake passports. But their fragile plan begins to unravel when Reda, burdened by guilt and disillusionment, squanders their savings on heroin. Left with nothing, Chatila becomes entangled in a dangerous smuggling scheme as they try to escape their dead-end existence. Blending documentary realism with dramatic storytelling, Fleifel's film delivers an emotionally charged portrait of refugee life in Europe, marked by vulnerability, resistance and the desperate pursuit of hope. The arrival of Malek, a young boy whose aunt promises to send money to bring him to Italy, provides a brief glimmer of optimism for the two men, but their future remains uncertain. The film is a European co-production involving several companies and institutions, including Inside Out Films (UK), Nakba Filmworks, Salaud Morisset (France and Germany), Homemade Films (Greece) and Studio Ruba (Netherlands). Additional support came from ERT, Metafora Production and the Red Sea Production Fund in Saudi Arabia. Distribution across the Arab region is handled by Film Clinic Indie Distribution. With To A Land Unknown, Mahdi Fleifel delivers a raw, humane, and timely story about exile, brotherhood and survival, firmly establishing the film as a standout in contemporary Arab and European cinema.
