Bold claim: Western audiences need Arab stories more than ever, and this is exactly why voices like Cherien Dabis and Shahad Ameen deserve the spotlight. Juliette Binoche, celebrated French actor, spoke candidly at the Red Sea Film Festival where she is both an honoree and the presenter of her directorial debut, In-I in Motion. On a panel organized by Kering’s Women in Motion, Binoche praised Dabis and Ameen, emphasizing that stories from Arab filmmakers have a crucial place in Western cinema.
Directly addressing Ameen after the Saudi filmmaker shared how she broke into directing amid a rising Saudi film scene, Binoche offered high praise: a young woman watching a film and choosing to direct is a powerful display of courage, she noted. Such encouragement from established artists can spark new generations to pursue their own projects, even when the path feels uncertain.
This event marked the first-ever Kering | Women in Motion session at the Red Sea Film Festival. It opened with a stirring address from Laurent Claquin, Kering’s chief brand officer, who described his trip to Jeddah as meaningful and inspiring. He highlighted the initiative’s decade-long commitment to supporting boundary-pushing artists and celebrated how the Red Sea Film Festival has grown into a vibrant platform for creativity that draws storytellers from around the world. His remarks underscored the festival’s evolving role beyond a single event, becoming a catalyst for bold, regional storytelling.
The conversation centered on the filmmakers’ latest works. Binoche recalled that her move into directing began with a suggestion from Robert Redford, who attended her stage production In-I in New York and urged her to document its making. The dream became a reality 17 years later, when Binoche’s documentary about her creative process, created with dancer Akram Khan, premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival earlier this year.
Redford’s involvement extended to Dabis’ acclaimed drama, which premiered in January at Sundance. Dabis explained that her film aims to tell a neglected chapter of history—the Palestinian displacement of 1948, known as the Nakba. She emphasized that the impact of displacement and occupation spans generations and continues to shape lives today. Her work seeks to humanize Palestinians beyond what is often seen in Western media, viewing documentary storytelling as a tribute to resilience and dignity.
Dabis also noted a shift in reception toward Arab cinema in Europe compared with the United States, noting that post-9/11 dynamics prompted a reevaluation of how Arab stories are told and funded. She recalled living in New York at the time and witnessing a push to invest in narratives that diversify the global film landscape, a shift she sees as ongoing and hopeful.
Ameen described a full-circle moment, crediting Dabis with inspiring her choice to pursue filmmaking. She recalled discovering Amreeka in film school and immediately recognizing the need for more stories from her region. Her own work, including Hijra which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is making its debut back home in Saudi Arabia. She praised the current moment as a thrilling era for Saudi cinema—an environment that welcomes diverse voices and encourages filmmakers to embrace their uniqueness rather than imitate Hollywood.
Binoche encouraged this authentic approach with enthusiastic encouragement: Go for it, she urged, signaling that audiences crave fresh, unfiltered storytelling from the region.
In summary, the panel highlighted a broader movement: Arab cinema is gaining visibility and support across continents, while artists insist on staying true to their roots and forging distinctive voices. The discussion also raised important questions for readers: Do Western film industries do enough to nurture non-Western narratives? How can global audiences balance appreciation with accurate representation? Share your thoughts in the comments about whether this shift represents lasting change or merely a moment in the evolving conversation about global storytelling.
