The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is poised to highlight the Arab world, showcasing nine films from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region across various official and parallel sections. Scheduled from May 13 to 24, this festival underscores the ongoing artistic vibrancy and socio-political significance of Arab cinema, presenting narratives rooted in intricate identities, regional conflicts, and evolving cultural stories.

A notable entry is Once Upon a Time in Gaza, featured in the Un Certain Regard section. Directed by the Gaza-born twins Tarzan and Arab Nasser, this revenge thriller unfolds in 2007 during Hamas’s rise to power in the Gaza Strip. The film follows Yahya, a student who becomes embroiled in Gaza’s criminal underbelly, ultimately seeking retribution after the tragic murder of a close friend. The Nasser brothers, known for their acclaimed film Gaza Mon Amour, return to Cannes with another impactful portrayal of life under siege.

The official competition will showcase Eagles of the Republic by Swedish-Egyptian filmmaker Tarik Saleh, which chronicles the downfall of a fictional Egyptian actor ensnared in a web of scandal and survival. Also competing is La Petite Dernière by French filmmaker Hafsia Herzi, whose Tunisian-Algerian heritage informs a coming-of-age narrative about a young woman navigating life between two cultures.

The Un Certain Regard section features Aisha Can’t Fly Away by Egyptian director Morad Mostafa, a Cairo-set narrative that follows a Somali caregiver grappling with the harsh realities of migrant life. French-Tunisian filmmaker Erige Sehiri opens the section with Promised Sky, inspired by the attacks on sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia. Her previous work, Under the Fig Trees, received widespread acclaim for its humanistic approach to social issues.

Documentaries are also prominently featured, including Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Iranian director Sepideh Farsi, which offers an intimate glimpse into life in Gaza through video conversations with Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna. Tragically, Hassouna was killed in an Israeli airstrike just one day after the film was announced as part of Cannes’ ACID lineup, a parallel section dedicated to independent films.

In the Directors’ Fortnight, The President’s Cake by Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi will have its world premiere. The film centers on a young girl in Saddam-era Iraq, tasked with baking a birthday cake for the dictator—a mission fraught with danger and dark irony.

Palestinian actor Tawfeek Barhom makes his directorial debut with I’m Glad You’re Dead Now, a haunting short film in the official Shorts Competition. Competing in Critics’ Week is L’Mina by Moroccan director Randa Maroufi, which portrays the simmering unrest in the coal-mining town of Jerada.

While these selections affirm the global recognition of Arab storytelling, it’s noteworthy that only one of the nine films was produced without European co-production support, highlighting the ongoing reliance on international partnerships in the film industry.