MOHAMED DIAB / AMIRA
Award-winning writer and director, Mohamed Diab was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 1977. He then migrated to Egypt where he studied commerce at Suez Canal University in Ismailia before pursuing a degree in film at the New York Film Academy.
His work is often centered on pressing Egyptian issues. Cairo 678 [ANA 2012] , his directorial debut was released a month before the Egyptian revolution and was deemed by the New York Times, "unmistakably a harbinger of that revolution." Paulo Coehlo tweeted it "should be mandatory for all men to watch."
Before Cairo 678, he wrote four films: Real Dreams, The Island, The Replacement, and Congratulations. All which enjoyed commercial success in Egypt.
It took him and his brother two years and 13 rewrites before he considered Clash [ANA 2017] ready. The film opened Cannes' "Un Certain Regard" in 2016 and got the attention of Tom Hanks who sent Diab a letter to praise him for delivering a non-stereotypical and "enlightening depiction of modern Egypt".
His film Amira (2021) picked up three awards at the Venice Film Festival.
Mohamed often collaborates with his writer-producer partner and wife, Sarah Goher.
These days, Mohamed splits his time between Egypt and LA. His latest project is as the lead director on Marvel Studio's Moon Knight starring Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke.
Director Statement from La Biennale di Venezia
The fact that there exists some form of ‘immaculate conception’ in the most sacred and divided place on earth is fascinating yet surreal. Amira is a microcosmic exploration of the division and xenophobia that exists in today’s world. In the process of unravelling our heroine’s identity, the film begs the question, is hatred nature or nurtured?