As someone who works deeply in the Middle Eastern film industry, I have been thinking a lot about how our region is carving out its space on the global stage, especially in genre cinema. We are seeing more festivals spotlighting Arab work and more collaborations happening internationally, but there is still a long way to go in terms of visibility and representation.
I would love to hear from this community
• How do you see Arab and Middle Eastern cinema evolving in the next five to ten years
• Do you think global streamers and studios are doing enough to champion diverse voices, or does more need to be done
• For producers and filmmakers outside the region, what would make you excited to collaborate with Arab creators
I think these conversations are crucial in helping us all figure out how to tell bold and authentic stories and get them seen worldwide.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and hopefully sparking some exciting collaborations.
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Hi, Razan Takash. I think global streamers and studios could do more to champion diverse voices. I would love to see more big-budget and small-budget films and shows about different cultures around the world.
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I asked for an add and sent Razan some info on my Yemeni screenplay.
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It seems to me that Arab countries have an incredible wealth of stunning locations and a strong historical foundation for shooting outstanding films. The only thing these countries really need is to create conditions that make it financially attractive for film producers to go there — and they will.
Take Georgia or Ukraine as examples. They are not the most obvious “cinematic” countries, yet in Ukraine, for instance, a film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme was shot in Kyiv, which was presented as Paris on screen. Why? Because it was financially advantageous for the producers to come to Kyiv and film there.
Or look at The Fate of the Furious (Fast & Furious 8), which was shot near Tbilisi in Georgia — again, because it made financial sense.
In the same way, if Arab countries create favorable conditions for filmmakers, I believe producers would be more than happy to go there.
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In terms of locations for outside (American) filmmakers, some Arab countries (Morocco) have favorable conditions for filmmakers.
In terms of film originating from Arab/ME countries themselves, there will continue to only be a trickle of such successful films made so long as the majority of the region is governed by despots, monarchs and/or dictators. I don't see this changing in five years. But if you create a film that doesn't push the political boundaries of the region or preach secularism, modest success can still come from the region's film.
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Razan Takash From where I sit, I think Arab cinema is in an incredibly exciting moment. We’re seeing more films from the region make their way to international festivals and streaming platforms, and audiences outside the Middle East are clearly eager for bold, authentic perspectives that they haven’t experienced before. The rise of genre storytelling from the region in particular feels like a huge opportunity, because genre often provides an accessible entry point for global viewers while still allowing deeply personal and cultural themes to shine through.
I agree with you that global streamers and studios could be doing more. While they’ve taken steps to showcase diverse voices, there’s still a tendency to champion only a handful of breakout films rather than investing in sustainable pipelines that develop and support Arab creators across multiple projects. True progress would mean creating long-term partnerships and nurturing careers, not just spotlighting one-off titles.
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I believe Middle Eastern cinema is on the verge of a major global breakthrough.
Streaming platforms have taken some steps, but there is still plenty of room to meaningfully support bold and diverse new voices.
As someone observing from outside the region, collaborations become exciting when projects carry both cultural authenticity and global appeal.
I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing more boundary-pushing stories emerge in the coming years.
I think the problem also lies in what you correctly pointed out: most Middle Eastern countries are ruled by dictators or monarchs, while the financing largely comes from Western streamers. And if they’re the ones financing, they call the shots.
Given the various restrictions filmmakers in the Middle East face, they often can’t fully adapt to the working conditions and principles required by Western streaming platforms. And the streamers aren’t satisfied with that. Middle Eastern creators are used to working in their own way, and they’re not willing to adjust to someone else’s system.
This leads to disagreements, and streamers prefer not to get involved in situations where they expect major complications or workflow conflicts. So even though they would gladly finance compelling Middle Eastern films that could capture a wide audience, they cannot allow a situation where someone dictates how the work should be done.
That’s how I see it.
Hi Razan Takash ! I think just looking at the lineup of this year's Red Sea Film Festival is a great example not only of the direction of the interaction between Arab cinema and the rest of the world but also the tremendous financial and collaborative momentum Arab countries have created for themselves. Truly exciting developments that seem to have accelerated in just the last few months.
https://redseafilmfest.com/en/
Hi, I am a screenwriter and I noticed you have experience in sci-fi and your connection to the Middle East film world. I’m currently developing a science-fiction project and have been researching NEOM as a potential creative home for it. Since you live and travel the region and understand the industry there far better than I do, I wanted to ask if you’d be open to offering any guidance or advice on how best to approach NEOM as a filmmaker.
If you’d be willing, I would be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to send you the script — even just for general direction on whether NEOM might be a fit. I truly appreciate your time and any insight you’d be willing to share. www.xzylous.co