The Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is set to return to Cannes with a programme of panels, events and awards, including a discussion on how the region’s industry will weather the storm of ongoing conflict in Middle East.
Taking place from May 14-17 in collaboration with the Marché du Film, panels will cover the ongoing rise of Arab productions, co-productions in the region, talent development and the growing role of women in the industry.
On May 16, a discussion titled Business Unusual will explore how Arab film and TV industries are adapting and navigating a period of heightened instability and conflict in the region – a crisis that has involved nearly all Middle Eastern countries. According to the ACC, it will be “a forward-looking conversation on how the industry continues to grow and innovate in the face of change”.
The programme will kick off on May 14 with a panel exploring the rise of commercial Arab productions, hosted in collaboration with Saudi-owned production powerhouse MBC Studios. It will explore what is fuelling the momentum being experienced by a string of titles in the region.
The following days will include discussions on how women are shaping the direction of the industry across financing, production and distribution; how co-productions are driving commercial growth in the region; and the rise of Arab talent both regionally and internationally.
Speakers will include prominent Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy of Film Clinic; veteran actor and Cairo International Film Festival president Hussein Fahmy; and Gianluca Chakra, CEO of Middle East distributor Front Row Filmed Entertainment.
Filmmakers set to attend include Jordanian producer Rula Nasser, whose Cannes credits include Holy Spider and Inshallah A Boy; Myriam Sassine, the Lebanese producer of acclaimed 2021 feature Costa Brava, Lebanon; award-winning director Tarek Al Arian; Tunisian actor/director Dhafer L’Abidine; and Lebanese director Wissam Smayra (Perfect Strangers).
MBC Studios executives lined to speak include managing director and group director of production Samar Akrouk, head of films and global series Ali Jaafar and general manager of MBC Studios KSA, MBC Academy and MBC Talent Zeinab Abu Alsamh.
The ACC will also host the 10th Critics Awards for Arab Films on May 16. Events will be held at the Plage des Palmes and the Palais.
“At a time when the industry is undergoing rapid transformation, it is important to reflect on how Arab cinema continues to evolve and position itself globally,” said ACC co-founders Alaa Karkouti and Maher Diab.
“This year’s programme brings together voices from across the ecosystem — from decision-makers and talent representatives to producers and distributors — to explore where we stand today and where we are headed next.”
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