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Arab News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Mideast content creators unveil bold short films in collaboration with YouTube
DUBAI: Some of the region's most celebrated content creators — including Bahrain's Omar Farooq, the UAE's Anas Bukhash, Morocco's Taha Essou, Palestine's Haifa Beseisso and Egypt's Sherif Nabil — have premiered powerful short films in collaboration with YouTube to mark the platform's 20th anniversary. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ 'For years, creating and distributing entertainment was limited to major studios. Today, we're at an inflection point — YouTube creators are the entertainment industry's new startups,' said Tarek Amin, YouTube's regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Turkiye, during the premiere in Dubai this weekend. These creators, who amass billions of views across their channels, showcased deeply personal stories that transcend borders and languages, highlighting YouTube's role as a platform for emotional storytelling and global connection. The shift reflects a wider trend across the region with YouTube creators across the Middle East and North Africa rapidly becoming entertainment startups. Companies such as Telfaz11, which has offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have scaled from popular YouTube series to successful feature films. Bukhash's signature charm and curiosity is reflected in his film 'ABtalks Diaries: Korea Edition.' The work follows him on a journey through South Korea where he interviews chefs, artists, and members of the public. Despite a glaring language barrier, Bukhash draws out surprisingly intimate moments, proving that vulnerability is a universal language. 'We did this because we realized Arabs are obsessed with K-Pop,' Bukhash joked on stage. In 'Into the Dark,' Beseisso documents her four-day stay in a darkness retreat. Blending humor and reflection, her film becomes a deeply personal meditation on silence, emotion and reconnection — with herself and others. 'I heard about the darkness retreat from a friend and was intrigued,' she told Arab News. 'I went, closed my eyes for three days, and it turned out to be one of my favorite experiences.' In 'Into the Fire: Mount Ijen,' Nabil documents the harsh realities of sulfur miners working in Indonesia's active volcanic mountain. He exposes the conditions these workers face and the generational impact of their labor. 'YouTube gives you that intimacy,' Nabil said. 'It's a challenge, but it's rewarding.' The connection between these filmmakers lies in their ability to confront discomfort, explore untold stories, and share them with candor. 'This event is not for us,' Bukhash reflected. 'It's for the people at home wondering if they should start, and need that extra push.'
Web Release
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
MENA's new entertainment startups: YouTube creators on the silver screen
YouTube hosted a red-carpet screening today of upcoming releases for five content creators from across the Middle East and North Africa at Roxy Cinemas in Dubai. The premiere screening, Cinema YouTube, is part of YouTube's 20th anniversary celebrations and marks an inflection point in the creator economy as more content creators across the Middle East and North Africa cement their position as the new startups of entertainment and film. The Premiere YouTube creators included Bahrain's Omar Farooq, the UAE's Anas Bukhash, Morocco's Taha Essou, Palestine's Haifa Beseisso and Egyptian Sherif Nabil all amassing millions of views on YouTube and creating jobs through their work. The premiere content ranges from documentaries, to personal stories, set in Japan, Morocco, and Indonesia. 'We're in a new era of entertainment, and YouTube creators are at the epicenter. They've reimagined classic TV formats, like talk shows and challenges, and invented entirely new ones. They've evolved their channels into full-fledged media companies, producing high-quality content that is watched across all screens, all while creating jobs for people in the creative industry. Today, we are celebrating these prolific storytellers and their groundbreaking careers, showcasing the future of entertainment.' said Tarek Amin, Director of YouTube Middle East, Turkey and Africa. The shift reflects a wider trend across the creators across the Middle East and North Africa are rapidly becoming entertainment startups. Companies like Telfaz11 have scaled from popular YouTube series to successful feature films, even fostering new talent in Saudi cinema. Individual creators like Ahmed Al Nasheet now run full-fledged operations with dedicated teams. Similarly, Omar Farooq evolved from solo vlogging to launching 'Atanafas,' a production company employing 20 people, creating diverse content for clients across MENA. A red carpet kicked-off Cinema YouTube, followed by a fan meetup for more than 100 fans who will have the opportunity to watch the screenings and interact with their favourite creators. The works premiered at Cinema YouTube included: Escaping the Future by Omar Farouq (7.8M subscribers): This captivating documentary takes viewers on a journey through Japan, delving into profound themes of life, technology, and loneliness. It offers a unique exploration of contemporary existence through Omar's distinctive lens, demonstrating how far creators have come from simple vlogging to elaborate, award winning productions. ABtalks Diaries Korea Edition by Anas Bukhash Heritage by Taha Essou (2.59M subscribers) : A powerful documentary that uncovers the inspiring underdog story and enduring impact of Moroccan icon Haj Rahal Essoulami, Taha's late grandfather. As the founder of Africa's leading caterer, his life is intimately explored through the cherished memories of his family and those whose lives he touched, showcasing a deep dive into cultural heritage. (2.59M subscribers) A powerful documentary that uncovers the inspiring underdog story and enduring impact of Moroccan icon Haj Rahal Essoulami, Taha's late grandfather. As the founder of Africa's leading caterer, his life is intimately explored through the cherished memories of his family and those whose lives he touched, showcasing a deep dive into cultural heritage. Into the Dark by Haifa Beseisso (of Fly with Haifa (of Into the Fire: Mount Ijen by Sherif Nabil (644K subscribers): This investigative documentary exposes the perilous daily lives of sulfur miners in Indonesia's Mount Ijen volcano. Sherif takes viewers to where miners descend into toxic fumes with minimal protection to extract sulfur, challenging global indifference to hazardous and often forgotten labor in the 21st century. Most of the films will be released on the creators channels in the coming weeks. YouTube has billions of monthly logged-in users and every day people watch billions of hours of video and generate billions of views. The company also recently announced that on average, viewers are watching over one billion hours of YouTube content on televisions daily. As of May of 2024, YouTube reached 12 million people on connected TV in Saudi Arabia, 2.5 million in the United Arab Emirates & 600,000 in Qatar.
Qatar Foundation
15-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Foundation
Carnegie Mellon University and Qatar Foundation extend partnership for another decade
QF partner university, with AI education and research at the core of its mission, has graduated more than 1,400 students – nurturing leaders in fields of business, technology, and science Related Stories Story 4 min read Siraj launches the book 'Yaseen's Kite' to raise awareness about the Palestinian cause through children's literature. Story 3 min read An agreement aimed at developing educational resources inspired by Msheireb Museums to support students and researchers in Qatar Story 4 min read Social awareness program by Omar Farooq reflects the deep-rooted values of the Bahraini people
Qatar Foundation
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Foundation
QF's Siraj launches its first illustrated children's book at the Doha International Book Fair in collaboration with publisher HBKU Press
Siraj launches the book 'Yaseen's Kite' to raise awareness about the Palestinian cause through children's literature. Related Stories Story 3 min read An agreement aimed at developing educational resources inspired by Msheireb Museums to support students and researchers in Qatar Story 4 min read Social awareness program by Omar Farooq reflects the deep-rooted values of the Bahraini people Story 3 min read The league and clinics, hosted by QF in collaboration with the NBA and Qatar Basketball Federation, bring together more than 1,000 participants from across the country
Qatar Foundation
11-05-2025
- Science
- Qatar Foundation
QF's Rasekh and Msheireb Properties Collaborate to integrate heritage and culture into education
An agreement aimed at developing educational resources inspired by Msheireb Museums to support students and researchers in Qatar Related Stories Story 4 min read Social awareness program by Omar Farooq reflects the deep-rooted values of the Bahraini people Story 3 min read The league and clinics, hosted by QF in collaboration with the NBA and Qatar Basketball Federation, bring together more than 1,000 participants from across the country Story 5 min read Ceremony also launches the 'Thank You' campaign and hosts an interactive exhibition to promote ethical values in the community
