screen international has announced the lineup of actors and filmmakers selected for Arab Stars of Tomorrow 2025, the ninth installment of its new talent program for up-and-coming talent from the Middle East and North Africa.
This year’s selection includes Sudanese filmmaker Susanna Mirghani, who is based in Qatar; Algerian writer, director, and showrunner Zourika Tahar; Saudi actress Ramah Farden. Lebanese actor Joseph Akiki. and Palestinian actor Karim Daoud Anaya.
Arab Stars of Tomorrow celebrates Arab talent from across the MENA region, highlighting the hottest up-and-coming actors, writers, directors and producers with the highest crossover appeal to impact the international industry.
Click the links below to read the individual profiles of each of this year’s stars.
This is our fourth year working with the Red Sea International Film Festival to present our selections, and once again with our esteemed partners at Film AlUla, we have hosted a photoshoot in their state-of-the-art production facility.
The 2025 lineup includes freelance international journalists; screen Contributor from MENA region.
Palestinian actor Karim Daud Anaya He made his screen debut in a film starring Annemarie Jacir. Palestine 36 – Regional Oscar submissions. He has been living in Berlin since 2015.
lebanese actor Josef Akiki Received international attention for appearing in Charlie Kaufman’s short film. how to shoot ghosts He co-starred with Jesse Buckley, which premiered in Venice this year.
Jeddah location Lamar Faden He made his screen debut in Saudi Arabia’s Oscar-winning production. hijrathe second film directed by Shahad Amin.
Born in Algeria, lives in Paris Zulika Tahar She is the first series showrunner to appear on Arab Stars of Tomorrow in its debut series. elsadin It won a special award at this year’s Series Mania.
Sudanese film director based in Qatar Susanna Mirghani had produced six short films before developing the 2020 winner. Al Sit to function cotton queen‘ had its world premiere at this year’s Venice Critics’ Week.
Stars of Tomorrow is an offshoot of Screen International’s UK and Ireland Stars of Tomorrow initiative, which ran continuously for 21 years and spotlighted British talent early in their careers, from Benedict Cumberbatch and Emily Blunt in 2004 to Owen Cooper in 2025. Since then, Stars of Tomorrow has spread its wings to include the Spanish Stars of Tomorrow, the Scottish Rising Stars, the Irish Rising Stars and the Arab Stars. Tomorrow is Red Sea’s first competition in 2022.
The alumni group’s “Arabs of Tomorrow” included Tunisian actor Adam Bissa (The Hand) and French Moroccan director Sofia Alaoui. The initiative was launched in Dubai in 2016, and the first edition included Lebanese helmer Mounia Akl, Tunisian actress Malam Al-Fersi, Jordanian director and screenwriter Amjad Al-Rashid, Syrian actor Samiir Ismail, and Moroccan helmer and screenwriter Alaa Eddin Aljem.
Rothe said: “These are great times for Arab cinema, with more Oscar-nominated projects coming from the region than ever before. The group we have assembled for ‘Arab Stars of Tomorrow’ reflects the vibrancy of the industry and the undeniable crossover appeal that is finally emerging from MENA.”
Matt Mueller Editor-in-Chief; screen internationalsays: “As MENA cinema continues to grow in vibrancy and influence, we are confident that these five talents have a very bright future ahead of them.
“Thank you to curator E Nina Rothe for this year’s lineup. screen international Contributor with long experience reporting from the region. We would also like to thank our partners at Red Sea, Film AlUla and DDA for their tremendous support in making this year’s Arab Star of Tomorrow a reality. ”
Profile by E Nina Rothe. Photography for the movie “AlUla”: Eamonn M McCormack/Getty Images
