6 Arab film to screen at Cannes Film Festival
From dramas to thought-provoking documentaries, here are six films from the region to screen at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
'Once Upon a Time in Gaza'
The film, by Gaza-born twins Tarzan and Arab Nasser, is set in 2007 and follows Yahya, a student, and his unexpected friendship with Ousama, a warm-hearted dealer, during the rise of Hamas.
'Eagles of the Republic'
Created by Swedish Egyptian director Tarik Saleh, the film centers on a fictional Egyptian actor whose reputation collapses in the public eye.
'La Petite Derniere'
French Tunisian Algerian filmmaker Hafsia Herzi's movie follows a young Algerian immigrant in France as she navigates identity, tradition and self-discovery after joining an elite preparatory school.
'Aisha Can't Fly Away'
The movie, by Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa, centers on a Somali caregiver in Cairo, exploring the tensions and complexities in the city's African migrant communities.
'Promised Sky'
French Tunisian director Erige Sehiri's film follows Marie, a 40-year-old Ivorian pastor in Tunisia, during rising tensions and violence against sub-Saharan migrants.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Filipino film opposed by Beijing draws global attention to disputed South China Sea
MANILA: Pulled from screens days before its premiere, a Philippine documentary about the daily struggles of Filipino fishermen and coast guards is now winning big abroad, turning the spotlight onto the disputed South China Sea and Manila's tensions with Beijing. 'Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea,' by Filipino filmmaker Baby Ruth Villarama, was initially set for a Philippine premiere in March. However, it was dropped from the lineup of the PureGold CinePanalo Film Festival in Manila with organizers citing 'external factors.' The film's title refers to the Philippine part of the South China Sea lying within the country's exclusive economic zone, an area central to a long-running dispute over the strategic waterway between Manila and Beijing. Seeking to highlight the 'human' side of tensions beyond geopolitical framing, it centers on the story of Filipino fishermen 'who risk their lives every day' and the quiet efforts of Philippine coast guard personnel to keep them safe despite limited resources, Villarama told Arab News. 'They see it as their duty, their lifeblood, and their birthright. What struck us most was not anger or fear, but a deep sense of quiet dignity. These are men who wake before sunrise, not minding what dangers await them, yet they sail because they must feed their families and uphold traditions passed down for generations,' she said. 'They don't use the word 'patriotism,' but they live it. For them, the West Philippine Sea isn't an idea. It's home. It's where they survive, dream, and stand their ground. Their courage is unassuming, but it is fierce.' The documentary went on to have its world premiere at the Doc Edge Festival in New Zealand, where it won the Tides of Change prize earlier this month. 'International recognition gave the film credibility, but it was really the solidarity of communities here and abroad that could make the screening possible on the 27th (of July),' Villarama said. 'We're just hoping for the best.' Before the film made its international debut in New Zealand, it faced pressure from the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland, which lodged a formal protest to festival organizers and requested the film's scheduled screenings were canceled. Despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines' claims China continues to assert its historical claims to the waters, through which an estimated $5.3 trillion worth of commercial goods transit annually. In a letter to organizers later posted online, the Chinese consulate said the film was 'rife with disinformation and false propaganda, serving as a political tool for Philippines to pursue illegitimate claims in the South China Sea.' But for its creators, the film was always about the Filipino audience. 'We made 'Food Delivery' to hold up a mirror to the truth — not to divide, but to help us see more clearly what is happening in our own waters. Because no matter where we stand on politics or personal beliefs, one thing is certain: The West Philippine Sea is part of our story. It is part of who we are,' Chuck Gutierrez, co-founder of documentary producer Voyage Studios, told Arab News. 'The truth is, we did not make this film to antagonize anyone. Our goal was simple — to show the day-to-day reality faced by Filipinos at the West Philippine Sea. What we captured came from firsthand experiences, not secondhand narratives. These are voices that have long been unheard.' Winning the award in New Zealand was a 'deeply affirming moment' for Gutierrez and his team. 'It means that telling the truth, especially when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable, is still worth fighting for,' he said. 'Despite the forces that tried to silence the story we were telling, the truth found its voice and resonated with an international audience.'
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
The best movies of the year so far
DUBAI: From awesome animation to devastating documentary, here are our top films of 2025 to date. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ 'A Complete Unknown' Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro Director: James Mangold Chalamet gained deserved plaudits for his portrayal of arguably the greatest singer-songwriter in the history of modern Western music, Bob Dylan, in Mangold's biopic — and he does a fine job, capturing the star's fragile ego and magnetic charisma. But the true star of 'A Complete Unknown' may be Barbaro as Dylan's fellow folk-music star Joan Baez, she embodies Baez's fiery nature, intelligence and talent brilliantly. Mangold navigates the many myths (often self-generated) surrounding Dylan to create an utterly convincing look at his early career, up to the infamous furor created when he turned his back on folk purism by using electric instruments. Biopics of musicians have a checkered past, but 'A Complete Unknown' is definitely one of the good ones. 'Ocean with David Attenborough' Directors: Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey, Colin Butfield Starring: David Attenborough Perhaps the year's most vital movie so far is a documentary fronted by a 99-year-old. In 'Ocean,' the venerable English biologist and broadcaster presents a gorgeously shot, awe-inspiring and immersive film that examines the damage done in the depths of Earth's oceans by the thousands of super-sized fishing trawlers operating around our planet constantly. With his trademark authority and passion, Attenborough lays out just what is at risk if they continue their destruction. But crucially, he also offers hope: the oceans, scientists have discovered, can recover at remarkable rates. 'As nature documentaries go, it's hard to imagine 'Ocean' being bettered,' our reviewer wrote. 'Flow' Director: Gints Zilbalodis Writers/producers: Gints Zilbalodis, Matiss Kaza Quite how a film with no dialogue manages to be so engaging, thought-provoking and moving is a mystery. But this Latvian animation about a black cat struggling to survive alongside a small group of other animals in a post-apocalyptic world in which water levels are rising dramatically is all of that and much more. It's a slow-burner, meditative at points, but with moments of great peril and small heroics. From the beautifully rendered landscapes to the astonishing attention to small details in the animals' movements, noises and behavior, 'Flow' is clearly a labor of love, and deservedly picked up Best Animated Feature at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes. 'The Phoenician Scheme' Starring: Benicio del Toro, Mia Threapleton, Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed Director: Wes Anderson This 1950s-set story of an arms dealer whose near-death experience leads him to try and fix his relationship with his estranged daughter, a nun, is not the best Wes Anderson movie, but it's still a Wes Anderson movie, and so delivers typically stunning cinematography, great (and heavily stylized) performances from a stellar ensemble cast (including those mentioned above plus Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, and many more), plenty of dark humor, and a singular world view. If only every director's 'not their best' work could match up. 'Black Bag' Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela Director: Steven Soderbergh The conceit at the heart of 'Black Bag' — a husband-wife spy duo — is nothing new; nor is its 'twist' of one being assigned to investigate the other when they are suspected of being a traitor. But with Soderbergh at the helm, and actors as accomplished as Blanchett and Fassbender as the leads, this super-stylish thriller sets itself apart. Fassbender plays British intelligence officer George Woodhouse, whose wife Kathryn (Blanchett) is just one of five people suspected of leaking some top-secret software, but she quickly climbs to the top of that list when George discovers her secret Swiss bank account. 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl' Voice cast: Ben Whitehead, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Reece Shearsmith Directors: Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham There is so much to admire about Aardman Animations' sixth installment in this action-comedy series about a provincial English inventor and his long-suffering dog. Not least that it proves to certain film studios (hey Marvel) that it's still possible to tell an entertaining yarn in 90 minutes or less. With Aardman's usual jaw-dropping stop-motion skills providing the arresting visuals, and Park and co-writer Mark Burton's knack for creating storylines that produce giggles and feels for all ages as strong as ever, this was a very welcome return for our two unlikely heroes and their arch enemy Feathers McGraw, out to frame Wallace in revenge for his imprisonment back in 1993's 'The Wrong Trousers.' 'Sinners' Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Canton Director: Ryan Coogler One of the most entertaining vampire films we've seen for a while. Jordan is excellent in dual roles as Elijah and Elias Smoke — twin brothers returning to their hometown and trying to outrun their criminal past. Set in the Mississippi Delta in 1932, it's partially inspired by the legend of the blues musician Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil. The blues plays a major role in the movie too (with some not-so-subtle digs at the fact that some of the blues' biggest fans would also likely be adversaries of the Black musicians making it), as the twins' cousin Sammie is a hugely talented musician. The brothers set up their own juke joint, at which Sammie's the resident star. Then the joint becomes a target for undead forces of evil. 'Sinners' is brash, bold, and a lot of fun.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing' esports growth in MENA region
RIYADH: Emmy Award-winning director R.J. Cutler is no stranger to esports. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport As part of the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh in 2024, the American filmmaker showcased the competition's athletes and their stories in the five-part documentary 'Esports World Cup: Level Up,' streaming on Prime Video. Cutler's series delves deep into the lives of these elite players, revealing the dedication, skill and passion that drive them, offering a platform to connect with a global audience. During his visit to Riyadh, Cutler discussed the significance of the Esports World Cup. 'The Esports World Cup is incredibly impactful because esports is still new and emerging on the global stage,' Cutler said. 'To see the way Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people have gathered around the Esports World Cup is amazing, to see the infrastructure that's been built is extraordinary, and everything around it is mind-blowing.' By highlighting the human stories and showcasing Esports World Cup Foundation's significant investment in the gaming and esports industry, Cutler believes the series is able to reach new audiences and showcase how the Esports World Cup is changing people's lives. 'One of the things we hoped to do, and we were successful in doing, was making the show accessible to everybody whether you were a fan of esports, or not. 'It's a human sport and that's what we wanted to show (the audience), we wanted to reflect exactly what we experienced ourselves first-hand in Riyadh.' Growing from a niche sport to a global phenomenon, the Esports World Cup had elevated the esports and gaming industry, added prestige, provided a global platform for teams and players to thrive, while fostering a community of passionate fans from across the world. 'The cliche of what a gamer is, is totally defined by the Esports World Cup, it's as broad a sport as any sport there is and with every single player you have a different extraordinary story, that's what we see in Level Up,' Cutler said. 'Humanizing the esports industry was our whole objective, we tell human stories and we're making real films. We want the audience to connect with other people and to project themselves into the scenario so that anybody playing games at home can think that 'I could be there, that could be me.' 'The series showcases a full range of human stories, it's character-driven, it's emotional, it's dramatic; we want you to laugh, cry and stomp your feet and in season one that was definitely happening.' The Esports World Cup is a key pillar of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, and a significant part of the Kingdom's national gaming and esports strategy, which aims to foster talent development, establish a world-class gaming and esports ecosystem, and support economic diversification. The goal is to create 39,000 jobs and contribute $13.3 billion to Saudi Arabia's economy by 2030. The inaugural Esports World Cup was a watershed moment, as the world's best players converged in Riyadh to compete across the most popular games and win their share of a record-breaking prize pool, but in 2025 things are bigger, better and bolder. Competing for a $70-plus million prize pool, the largest in esports history, more than 2,000 players, from 200 clubs, representing more than 100 countries, have returned for the Esports World Cup 2025, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 games including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, League of Legends, EA FC 25, Rocket League, and PUBG Battlegrounds. The event runs until Aug. 24, and is held alongside the Esports World Cup Festival, a celebration of esports and gaming culture that features interactive experiences, live performances, competitions and global cuisine, facilitating cultural exchange and showcasing Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage to global visitors. For 2025, the prize pool has grown, ticket sales and visitor numbers have swelled, and its global appeal has increased exponentially, bolstered by the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo as the global ambassador and a live performance from Post Malone at the opening ceremony. 'There was a $60 million prize pool last year, more than $70 million this year, this incredible infrastructure has sprouted up around it, the passion of the audiences and those following all of the teams is amazing,' Cutler said. 'The Esports World Cup is something that you really have to experience to believe it.'
