Mahmoud Sabbagh, or Mah Sabbagh (
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
: مَحْمُود صباغ; born March 1983) is a
Saudi film director, producer, and screenwriter. Sabbagh has been a major pioneer of independent cinema in Saudi Arabia since 2013. His debut feature, titled ''
Barakah Meets Barakah'', premiered at
Berlin Film Festival in 2016; becoming the first feature film from Saudi Arabia to screen in the festival. His debut film was also selected as the entry of Saudi Arabia for the Best Foreign Language Film at the
89th Academy Awards.
In 2015, Sabbagh founded
Elhoush Productions, the first independent feature film production company, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Sabbagh opened the first official art house cinema in Jeddah in 2019.
Cinema Elhoush opened with the screening of Stanley Kubrick's groundbreaking epic 2001: A Space Odyssey.
It resumed its program in Winter 2022 at Alula, with a collection of recent and classic films
premiered a retrospective of Wong Kar-Wai screening five of his top films in 4k format for the first time in Saudi Arabia.
Sabbagh was named on the jury for the Best First Feature Award at the
67th Berlin International Film Festival
The 67th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 9 to 18 February 2017 with Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven as President of the Jury. '' Django'', directed by Etienne Comar, opened the festival. The Golden Bear was awarded to the ...
.
Sabbagh is also known locally by the documentary ''The Story of
Hamza Shehata'' (2013). Sabbagh also created/directed the provocative TV/web drama series ''Cash'' (2014); a 10-episodes drama series shot in cinema style. Sabbagh holds a master's degree of science from
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is located in Pulitzer Hall on the university's Morningside Heights campus in New York City.
Founded in 1912 by Joseph Pulitzer, Columbia Journalism School is one of the oldest journalism s ...
where he studied storytelling filmmaking.
In October 2017, it was announced that Sabbagh is working on his second feature, titled: ''
Amra and The Second Marriage''. The film was shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and premiered in London BFI festival in 2018.
In March 2019, Sabbagh was announced the Festival Director of Saudi Arabia's first international film festival, The Red Sea Film Festival.
Filmography
* ''Barakah Meets Barakah'' (2016). Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at
Berlin Film Festival.
Berlinale 2016, The Awards Report
2016
* ''Amra, and The Second Marriage'' (2018).
* '' Glitch Love'' (2022).
Further reading
Kerr, Simeon. "Romantic comedy puts spotlight on desires of Saudi youth" (''Financial Times'' October 30, 2016)''Screen - Barakah Meets Barakah Review at the Berlianle'' - 18 February, 2016"Mahmoud Sabbagh And The ‘Challenges’ Facing Saudi Filmmakers" - Variety 2016"Ten Names You Need To Know In The Arab Film Industry" (''Variety'' May 13, 2016)
External links
*
Mah Sabbagh's blog
References
Saudi Arabian film directors
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumni
1983 births
Living people
{{SaudiArabia-bio-stub