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Arab News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Nadine Labaki among stars to headline Abu Dhabi congress on Arabic creativity
DUBAI: Acclaimed Arab stars including Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki, Tunisian Egyptian actress Hend Sabry and Jordanian director and actress Tima Shomali will headline the upcoming Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi from Sept. 14 to 15. The two-day event, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, aims to explore the evolving role of the language in the region's fast-growing creative economy. It brings together cultural leaders, global tech voices and rising regional talent. A post shared by تيما الشوملي (@timashomali) The celebrity trio will lead a panel titled 'Her Narratives: Women Reimagining Arabic Creativity,' which highlights the impact of Arab women in reshaping storytelling across film, literature, media and digital platforms. Labaki is best known for her Oscar-nominated film 'Capernaum,' Sabry for her award-winning roles in Arabic cinema and Netflix's 'Finding Ola,' and Shomali for co-creating and starring in the Netflix series 'AlRawabi School for Girls.' The session will focus on their personal experiences, creative approaches and the challenges they have overcome while influencing Arabic cultural expression. Hend Sabry is famous for her award-winning roles in Arabic cinema and Netflix's 'Finding Ola.' (Instagram) Other highlights include 'Whose Story Is It?'— a conversation on originality versus adaptation in Arabic television featuring Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum, Syrian author and poet Rami Koussa and OSN executive Rolla Karam. The session will examine how localized remakes and original content shape identity and creative ownership in an increasingly globalized market. The congress also brings together major players in technology and media, with partners including Google, AWS, TikTok, Adobe and Sard Writers' Room. The agenda spans themes including artificial intelligence, digital publishing, and the business of creativity through a series of curated panels and industry conversations. In 'Creators, Capital, and Control,' executives from Snap, TikTok and Meta will discuss power dynamics in today's content economy. Also, 'Arabic Language Crisis and the Coming Shift' will examine the tension between Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects. Panelists include Dr. Ali bin Tamim, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, and language expert Dr. Hanada Taha Thomure.
The National
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Nadine Labaki, Hend Sabry and Mo Amer to speak at Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi
Palestinian-American actor and comedian Mo Amer and Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki will participate in this year's International Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries, taking place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on September 14 and 15. They will be joined by Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, and a number of other content creators, technologists and policymakers to discuss future opportunities and challenges in telling stories from the Arab world. Entry is free upon registration. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the congress will look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping regional creative industries with sessions focusing on how it enhances storytelling and audience development, preserves heritage and sparks new forms of creative entrepreneurship. Also part of the programme is a panel looking at how to maintain the appeal of Arabic language for future generations. Following core strands focusing on industry capacity building and a showcase of youth creative projects, the event will also feature exhibition stands and representatives from companies including Google, Meta, Snap Inc and TikTok. It will mark the return of the Innovation Awards – a competition encouraging students to pitch ideas to promote the Arabic language. 'This year's Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries marks a bold new chapter in our mission to position Arabic creativity at the forefront of global cultural discourse,' Ali bin Tamim, chairman of Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, tells The National. 'By convening some of the most dynamic thinkers and creators from the region and beyond, we are not only redefining the narrative around Arabic culture, but also actively shaping the future of storytelling.' Launched in 2022, the congress has steadily expanded from its focus on publishing to include the state of the creative industries. Last year's event featured DCT Abu Dhabi chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, who called for a renewed role for the creative sector in education. 'This is an investment of the mind when it comes to school curricula, when it comes to cultural programming in understanding what the Arab world has contributed,' he said. 'It is not just about the present and past, but also the future.' Al Mubarak highlighted the need for new Arabic cultural content to reach younger generations and stressed that the UAE's growing creative economy, which at the time of the event employed more than 400,000 people and contributed four per cent to the GDP, is already a key driver of that shift. Egyptian-American economist Mohamed El Erian, also present at last year's event, praised the UAE's investments in artificial intelligence as a tool for enhancing rather than replacing creativity. 'AI is going to impact every single person,' he said. 'But I see that AI will be less of a replacement and more of an enhancer.'
Broadcast Pro
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Front Row and Empire Entertainment to release Lebanese film ‘Disorder' on July 10
Front Row will be announcing the exact dates for the film's regional and global roll-out in early July. MENA-based distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment, in collaboration with Sony distributor Empire Entertainment, has announced the theatrical release of Disorder, a Lebanese anthology feature executive produced by filmmaker Nadine Labaki. The film will open in cinemas across Lebanon on July 10, with plans for a wider release throughout the Levant, the Gulf, select European countries and Australia over the summer. Originally planned as a limited local release, Disorder has generated strong interest following an acclaimed festival run, prompting Front Row to expand its distribution strategy to meet growing regional and international demand. Set against Lebanon's turbulent backdrop—from the 2019 protests to the devastation of the 2020 Beirut port explosion—the film weaves together four darkly comedic and deeply human stories that explore survival and resilience amid chaos. While firmly rooted in Lebanon's recent history, the anthology's themes speak to broader experiences across the region, where humour often becomes both a coping mechanism and an act of defiance. Disorder brings together four acclaimed Lebanese directors—Lucien Bourjeily, Wissam Charaf, Bane Fakih and Areej Mahmoud—to tell these stories with sharp wit and emotional resonance. The cast features celebrated Lebanese actors, including Manal Issa, Rodrigue Sleiman, Farah Shaer and Hanane Hajj Ali. The project was produced by Bechara Mouzannar with executive producers Nadine Labaki and Khaled Mouzannar, and co-producers Abla Khoury and Lara Karam Chekerdjian. The film premiered at Egypt's El Gouna Film Festival, where it received the Cinema for Humanity Audience Award and sold out three screenings. It later played to enthusiastic crowds at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and was featured at festivals in Zurich and Washington, DC, among others. Front Row plans to announce detailed dates for the film's regional and international rollout in early July.
Arab News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Toronto Arab Film Festival showcases diverse selection this June
DUBAI: The Toronto Arab Film Festival returns for its sixth annual edition with a diverse lineup from June 20 to 29. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ 'This year, we are screening over 50 films — both features and shorts — which is our largest number to date … it's fulfilling to watch the development of the Canadian-Arab film industry in real time,' Rolla Tahir, a Sudanese filmmaker and co-founder of TAF, said. A post shared by Toronto Arab Film (@torontoarabfilm) This year's program reflects the growing diversity and creative evolution of Arab cinema, with some well-known filmmakers participating. 'We're seeing a notable rise in genre films, especially horror and sci-fi. For example, there's a horror film from Tunisia and a short program dedicated entirely to sci-fi and horror,' Tahir said. Participants this year include Lebanese filmmaker Mira Shabib with her film 'Arze'' and 'Back to Alexandria' by Tamer Ruggli starring Lebanese actress Nadine Labaki. TAF has also become a valuable platform for professional development, offering networking opportunities for both emerging and established talent. 'This year, we're introducing an informal industry meet-and-greet — a casual networking event with no structured pitches,' Tahir explained. A post shared by WIFT+ Toronto (@ The event is designed to create a relaxed environment where Arab filmmakers can connect with industry professionals, ask candid questions, and introduce their projects without the pressure of formal presentations. The festival's mission may seem simple — to raise awareness of Arab cinema among Canadian audiences — but achieving that impact requires a deliberate strategy. It is one that Tahir and her co-founders have refined over the years. 'Each year, we collaborate with other festivals to co-present films and expand outreach beyond Arab audiences,' she said. For Tahir, the appeal of Arab cinema to non-Arab audiences comes naturally, thanks to the enduring quality and resilience of the work itself. 'What stands out is perseverance. Regardless of what's happening in our countries or personal lives, Arab filmmakers continue telling their stories.' It is that very perseverance — expressed through everything from harrowing documentaries to satirical comedies — that gives Arab filmmakers their distinct voice. 'I want people to know we're still making films — and that we're making different, bold, and innovative ones,' Tahir said.
Al-Ahram Weekly
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Back to Alexandria to open Toronto Arab Film Festival 2025 - Screens - Arts & Culture
Back to Alexandria (2023), starring Nadine Labaki, will open the sixth edition of the Toronto Arab Film Festival from 20 to 29 June. Directed by Tamer Ruggli, Back to Alexandria (Retour en Alexandrie) follows Sue (Labaki), who returns to her native Egypt from Switzerland, only to confront her painful past—and the woman she left behind. The film is a France–Switzerland–Egypt co-production co-written by Marianne Brun, Yousry Nasrallah, and Ruggli. It also stars Fanny Ardant, Hany Adel, Karima Mansour, Menha Batraoui, and Hazem Ehab. Released in 2023, the 90-minute film earned several nominations, including the Golden Eye Award at the Zurich Film Festival and the Tiantan Awards at the Beijing International Film Festival. Back to Alexandria is among several Egyptian titles featured in this year's Toronto Arab Film Festival lineup. Other Egyptian films screening at the festival include: Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo (2024) by Khaled Mansour Apoleon (2024) by Amir Youssef by Amir Youssef Dawn Every Day (2024) by Amir Youssef Mango (2024) by Randa Ali Are You a Rabbit? (2024) by Hatem Emam A City Without Love (2024) by Mostafa Gerbeii Catsaros (2025) by Muhammad El-Hadidi The 2025 edition will showcase over 50 films from across the Arab world, spanning genres from drama and documentary to sci-fi and experimental works. The Toronto Arab Film Festival—the first of its kind in Canada's largest city—aims to present and promote pan-Arab cinema by Arab filmmakers from around the globe. According to the festival's organizers, its goal is to 'encourage interconnectedness between Arab filmmakers in Toronto and foster emerging talent,' primarily through its Shabaka initiative, which hosts networking events and filmmaking workshops throughout the year. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
