10 Indie Movies by Arab Directors That You Seriously Need to Watch
It’s the weekend, AKA you don’t have plans, you’re staying in and you want something new to watch. In this listicle, I’ve compiled a list of movies by talented Arab creatives that you seriously need to watch, like, ASAP.
Theeb
Theeb, or wolf in English, is a movie by British-Jordanian director Naji Abu Nawar. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language and won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Basically, you need to watch this now.
Cairo Exit
Directed by Egyptian director Hesham Issawi, the movie tells the story of two Egyptian lovers who come from different religions. Need I say more?
City of Life
The movie is set in the UAE and rotates around three parallel lives in Dubai. City of Life, by Emirati director Ali F. Mostafa, tries to make a point of how tragedy and loss could lead to hope and life.
The Worthy
Another movie by Ali F. Mostafa, The Worthy is set in the not-so-far future where chaos has spread due to constant water shortage. The story revolves around a group of survivors looking for refuge.
Om Ghayeb (The Mother of the Unborn)
Directed by Nadine Salib, the film takes place in an abandoned area in Egypt, where an infertile wants nothing more in this world other than a child.
In the Last Days of the City
A documentary filmmaker, living in Cairo, is struggling to finish his film that captures the soul of the city.
Jareedy
Mohamed Hisham’s film was shot in Nubia, and it focuses on a boy who is trying to overcome his lifelong fear of swimming.
Ghadi
Directed by Amin Dora, the film was selected as the Lebanese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards. In a small traditional coastal town in Lebanon, Leba is a music instructor who marries his childhood love Lara, who is pregnant with a boy that requires special needs.
Where Do We Go Now?
Directed by Nadine Labaki, the Lebanese film won the People’s Choice Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.
Microphone
Microphone is Ahmad Abdalla’s second feature film, following Heliopolis. Microphone is an Egyptian independent film that talks about the underground art scene in Alexandria. The film won the Best Arabic Language film Award from Cairo International Film Festival and Tanit d’Or from Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage.
