Mohamed Diab

Mohamed Diab (Arabic: محمد دياب‎, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [mæˈħ.amæd dˤiæb], born 1978) is an Egyptian screenwriter and director whose work often centers on pressing issues concerning Egyptian society. He is known for his directorial debut film Cairo 678 (Les Femmes du bus 678),[2] which was released a month before the Egyptian revolution and was described by the New York Times as "unmistakably a harbinger of that revolution."[3] Paulo Coehlo tweeted about the film calling it "brilliant" and saying "it should be mandatory for men, regardless of their religion/culture, to watch it".[4]

Mohamed Diab
Born1978 (age 42–43)[1]
Ismailia, Egypt
NationalityEgypt
EducationNew York Film Academy
Occupationscreenwriter and director

Diab wrote the blockbuster Egyptian franchise El Gezeira (The Island) films which are one of the highest-grossing Egyptian films of all time.[5] The films revolve around a tyrannical drug lord on an island in Upper Egypt. El Gezira is often quoted and referenced in Egyptian pop culture and was the 2007 Egyptian nomination for the Academy Awards. Aside from filmmaking, Diab is known for his vocal participation in the 2011 Egyptian revolution, which earned him a Webby Award.[6]

Career

El Gezeira

El Gezeira, released in 2007, is inspired by the true story of the rise of a ruthless drug lord who lived on an island in Upper Egypt. The film set box office records and is often referenced in Egyptian pop culture. The sequel El Gezeira 2, released in 2014, begins with the escape of the drug lord from prison during the Egyptian revolution and his rebound to power back home on the island. The film set new Egyptian box office records becoming the highest grossing Egyptian and Arabic film of all times. Diab was only the writer of the film, while Sherif Arafa directed it.

Cairo 678

Cairo 678 is Diab's directorial debut. The film follows the intertwining stories of a vigilante trio of women who take on the sexual harassment epidemic in Cairo. The film was released in December 2010 and is considered the most award-winning contemporary Egyptian film. The film was distributed internationally and fared well notably in France, where it sold 265,000 tickets and received ÉcranTotal's "coup de foudre du public" audience recognition award.[7]

Eshtebak (Clash)

Eshtebak (Clash) was supposed to be a film about the rise of the Egyptian revolution but eventually became a film that captures the fall of the revolution. The entire film is shot from within the confines of a police riot truck.

The film is a recipient of grants and funding from the San Francisco Film Society, CNC l'aide au Cinémas du Monde and ARTE France.

The film was an official selection for the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard category.[8]

Moon Knight

In October 2020, Diab was hired to direct episodes of the upcoming Disney+ streaming series Moon Knight, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[9]

Filmography
Year Title Director Writer Notes
2022 Moon Knight Yes No streaming television series
2016 Eshtebak (Clash) Yes Yes co-written with Khalid Diab
2014 El Gezira 2 (The Island 2) Yes co-written with Khalid Diab and Sherine Diab
2014 Décor Yes co-written with Sherine Diab
2010 Cairo 678 Yes Yes
2009 Alf Mabrouk (Congratulations) Yes co-written with Khalid Diab
2009 Badal Fa'ed (The Replacement) Yes
2007 El Gezeira (The Island) Yes
2007 Ahlam Hakekeya (Real Dreams) Yes

Awards

Cairo 678 (Les Femmes du Bus 678)
Festival Awards
Chicago International Film Festival Silver Hugo Best Film

Silver Hugo Best Actor

Dubai International Film Festival Best Actor

Best Actress

Asia Pacific Screen Awards Jury Grand Prize

High Commendation

Sydney Film Festival Special Mention
Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival Prix Du Public

Prix Jeune Public

Taormina Film Festival Youth Choice Award
Heartland Film Festival Grand Prize
Khouribga African Film Festival Best Film

Best Supporting Actress

Third Eye Asian Film Festival Best Film
Mediterranean Film Festival Best Film
Salé Women's Film Festival Special Mention
African Film Festival of Cordoba Audience Choice Award
Cologne African Film Festival Audience Choice Award
Egyptian Oscars Best New Director
Catholic Egyptian Film Festival Jury Prize
Arabian Sights Film Festival Audience Choice Award

In 2011, Christiane Amanpour presented Mohamed Diab with a Webby Award.[10]

References
  1. "6 معلومات عن محمد دياب العضو المصرى بلجنة تحكيم "Un Certain Regard"". Youm7. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  2. AlloCine. "Les Femmes du Bus 678". AlloCiné. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  3. Scott, A. O. (March 22, 2011). "New Directors/New Films at Lincoln Center and Museum of Modern Art". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  4. "Paulo Coelho on Twitter". www.elcinema.com. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  5. "El Gezeria, 3rd biggest revenues", filfan.com, retrieved October 28, 2020
  6. "Mohamed Diab | The Webby Awards". webbyawards.com. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  7. "Bon début pour les femmes du bus 678". Evene.fr. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  8. "The 2016 Official Selection". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  9. "'Moon Knight': Mohamed Diab To Direct Marvel's Disney+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  10. "Mohamed Diab | The Webby Awards". webbyawards.com. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
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