List of “Most Influential” Cinema 2026… Emirati and Egyptian leaders
The UAE, through 11 artistic entities, topped the list of “The 101 Most Influential in Arab Cinema for the Year 2026,” which is the annual list issued by the “Arab Cinema Center,” as part of its activities held at the “Cannes International Film Festival.” The list highlights the most prominent achievements achieved in the Arab film industry during the past twelve months, extending from May 2025 to May 2026.
This year’s list includes a mixture of dedicated names, which return again alongside new creative energies, and is also distinguished by a remarkable presence of Arab women. The list includes: 20 directors, 8 actors, 18 production companies, 7 creatives working behind the camera, 7 festivals, 4 non-governmental organizations, 3 artistic cinemas, 7 financing bodies, 6 broadcast channels and digital platforms, 9 empowering bodies, in addition to 11 exhibition and distribution bodies, which continue to support Arab cinema and its cross-border excellence.
Emirati presence… 11 centers of creativity:
UAE creators won 11 places on the list, and the entities included: “Sharjah Arts Foundation”, “Cinema Akil”, “OSN Network”, “Yango Play”, “Empire International Gulf”, “Gulf Film”, “Novo Cinema”, “Front Row”, “Majid Al Futtaim Group (Vox Cinema)”, “Orient Films”, and “Prime Cinema”.
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Egypt..Sadara with 25 names and entities:
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Yusra
Egypt came at the forefront of the list with 25 names and entities, topped by the big star Yousra and director Tariq El-Erian, along with the stars and makers: Ahmed Malek, Karim El-Shenawy, Marwan Hamed, Mohamed Hammad, Mourad Mostafa, and Ahmed Desouky. On the technical and institutional side, it included: Abdel Salam Musa, Hisham Nazih, Mustafa Al-Kashef, and Alia Zaki. It also included: AA Films, Bonanza Films, Film Clinic, Film Square, Red Star, Shift Studios, Zawya, United Media Services, MAD Solutions, Allied Film Distributors, and Misr International Film Festivals, in addition to the Cairo and El Gouna festivals.
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Tariq Al-Erian
Lebanon and Palestine…a qualitative presence:
Lebanon came with 12 names and entities, including directors and makers: Cyril Aris, Daniel Arbid, Christopher Aoun, Raya Abi Rashid, and Rana Eid. Among the institutions are: “About Production”, “Our Films”, “Metropolis Cinema”, “Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC)”, “Empire International”, “Salim Ramia Company”, and “Cocoon Films Foundation”.
As for Palestine, it was represented by 11 names, including directors: Anne-Marie Jacir, Tarzan and Arab Nasser, and Rami Masalha. The actors include: Clara Khoury, Hiyam Abbas, Kamel Al-Basha, and Saleh Bakri, in addition to the institutions: “Palestine Films,” “Film Lab Palestine,” and “The Palestine Film Institute.”
Jordan, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia and Sudan:
Jordan appeared with seven names, including: director Zein Deri’i, actor Majd Eid, musician Souad Bouchnak, and producer Alaa Al-Assad, in addition to “The Imaginarium Films,” “Amman Film Festival,” and “The Royal Film Commission.” Iraq was represented by four names: director Hassan Hadi, the “Iraqi Cinema Support Fund,” “Iraqi Cinema,” and the “Kurdistan Film Fund.” While Morocco attended with 3 names: director Maryam Touzani, the “Marrakesh Festival,” and the “Moroccan Film Center.” Tunisia also included nine parties, including directors: Areej Sahiri, Kawthar Ben Haniyeh, Leila Bouzid, Mehdi Hmeli, actor Dhafer El Abidine, and musician Amine Bouhafa, in addition to “Cinetelefilms”, “Nomads Emojis”, and “Carthage Film Festival”. Finally, two names represented Sudan: director Suzanne Mirghani and Station Films.
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