Arab Spring Provides Arab Film New Audiences and New Economic Opportunities

A new direction for Middle Eastern cinema has evolved with the Arab Spring. The revolutions have provided filmmakers with fresh narratives and wider global interest in Arab film, which has dovetailed with an appetite in the Arab Gulf to invest in culture and become a new hub for the industry, one long dominated by Egypt. Interest in filmmaking in the Arab world is also driven by newfound economic potential, both in domestic production and financing international films. Hajer Ben Nasr, a Tunisian documentarian, speaks to Arabic Knowledge@Wharton about the opportunities and challenges for Arab filmmakers. “It’s not yet an industry (but) some people now see an opportunity to make money,” she says.

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Filming the Next Blockbuster in the Middle East

In recent years, filmmakers and business executives from the United States, South Asia, and Europe have shown a growing interest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, not only as a potential market but also as a wellspring of talent and inspiration. Major motion pictures — such as Syriana, The Kingdom, The Hurt Locker, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and In the Valley of Elah – were all filmed in the MENA region and have since achieved blockbuster success, suggesting that film directors are acknowledging the unique cinematic opportunities this region can offer.

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