6 Arab films competing in the “Cannes Film Festival 2026”… The Moroccan film “The Sweetest” is one of them
The “Cannes International Film Festival” continues to strengthen its position as one of the most prominent film festivals in the world, as the attention of makers, fans and audiences of “The Seventh Art” is directed, these days, to the French Riviera, to follow the activities of the elegant French festival, in its seventy-ninth session, which continues until the twenty-third of this month of May.
Amidst the momentum of the presence of the most prominent international cinema stars, Arab cinema is participating with a group of films, varying between long and short narrative films and documentaries, with participation from Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen and Syria, and their appearance can be followed in the various sections of the festival, namely: “Un Certain Regard”, “Directors’ Week”, and “Critics Week”. These films reflect the interest of Arab filmmakers in presenting local stories that have global dimensions, while relying on modern narrative methods and different visual treatments, which helped to achieve this goal. Films to one of the most important cinematic platforms in the world.
The Moroccan film “The Sweetest” by director Laila Marrakchi:
Moroccan director, Laila Marrakchi, participates in her new film, “The Sweetest,” in the “Un Certain Regard” section, in a joint work between Morocco and Spain, which deals with the suffering of Moroccan female workers inside Spanish strawberry farms. The film focuses on the harsh conditions that working women face, from professional exploitation to psychological and social pressures that they live away from their families. Al-Marrakshi presents a humane treatment that relies on daily details and silent feelings, more than direct speeches.
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Syrian film “Damn”.. Abdullah Dawood:
Syrian director, Abdullah Dawoud, is participating in a work based on psychological drama and the human dimension, titled “Nefron,” within the activities of “Critics Week.” The film’s events revolve around a woman who loses her memory in the city of Damascus, after a period of turmoil, before a series of events lead her to confront her past and try to regain her identity again. The film focuses on the impact of wars and psychological trauma on humans, while presenting a dark visual atmosphere that reflects the state of the city and the social reality after long years of conflict.
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The Palestinian film “Yesterday, My Eyes Did Not Sleep” by director Rakan Mayasi:
The Palestinian director, Rakan Mayasi, participates in the films of the “Un Certain Regard” section, with the film “Yesterday, My Eyes Did Not Sleep,” in his first feature-length narrative experience, after a series of short films that achieved a remarkable presence in international festivals. The film’s events take place inside a Bedouin village in the Bekaa region, where a complicated love story turns into a crisis that threatens the stability of the entire village, amid an atmosphere that mixes myth, tribal customs, and human conflicts. Rakan Mayasi relies on a poetic visual language and an atmosphere full of psychological tension, with special attention to the details of the place and social relations, which gives the film a different character that combines realism and symbolism.
The Yemeni film “The Station” by director Sarah Ishaq:
The Yemeni-Scottish director, Sarah Ishaq, is participating in the film “The Station”, which is being shown within the “Critics Week” screenings. The film tells the story of a woman who runs a gas station designated for women in Yemen, amid an atmosphere of war and social difficulties. The film focuses on issues of freedom, independence, and the role of women within society, through a human story that relies on daily details and family relationships, far from direct political treatment. The work also presents an image of the impact of wars on the daily lives of people, especially women who face double challenges within societies suffering from crises and conflicts. Continuous.
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The Sudanese film “Nothing Happens After Your Absence” by director Ibrahim Omar:
Sudanese director Ibrahim Omar, with his short film “Nothing Happens After Your Absence,” is participating in the “Directors’ Week” activities, in a participation that reflects the continued growing presence of Sudanese cinema within major international festivals.
The film presents a calm, human vision about loss and absence, and their impact on human relationships, through a story that relies on daily details and silent feelings more than direct events. The work is characterized by a simple visual style, but it carries many psychological connotations, which has given Sudanese cinema in recent years its privacy within international festivals, especially with the emergence of a new generation of young directors.
The Moroccan film “Looking for the Gray Bird with the Green Sign” by director Said Hamish:
Moroccan director, Said Hamish Ben Larbi, participates with his documentary film “In Search of the Gray Bird with the Green Signal,” which is competing in the “Directors’ Week” screenings, presenting a different cinematic experience based on visual contemplation and the search for meaning. The film deals with the idea of memory, identity, and the inner journeys of man, through a treatment that combines documentary and experimental artistic style, as the director relies on natural images and calm rhythm. To create a special optical case.
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