Cinema’s New Wave Is Arab, Female, and Fierce — Arab American Heritage Month

April is Arab American Heritage Month, and this year we’re turning the spotlight on the Arab women who are rewriting the rules of film — both in Hollywood and beyond. These women aren’t just changing the narrative. They’re owning it. From powerhouse performances to behind-the-scenes brilliance, they’re creating space, breaking cycles, and lighting the path for the next generation.

Let’s get into it.

🎭 From the Margins to the Main Cast

Whether it’s Hiam Abbass dominating your screen as Marcia Roy in Succession or Alia Shawkat navigating twisted humor and existential dread in Search Party, these Arab women are bringing complexity, charisma, and range. They're done playing stereotypes — and they're not apologizing for it.

Then there’s May Calamawy, who made history as Marvel’s first Arab female lead in Moon Knight. But beyond the accolades, she brought authenticity. A soft strength. A refusal to perform exoticism for the gaze of the West. Her journey — from Ramy to Marvel — is one so many Arab girls finally see themselves in.

🎥 The Directors Rewriting the Rules

Behind the camera, Nadine Labaki and Haifaa al-Mansour are forces of nature and our Spotlight of the month. Labaki’s Capernaum ripped through audiences with its raw, emotional power — and became the highest-grossing Arabic-language film of all time. Al-Mansour’s Wadjda, is the first feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia by a woman.

These directors are challenging patriarchy, tackling taboos, and doing it on their terms. Their work says: we’re not here to be silent. We’re here to shape culture.

Rising Voices to Watch

The future is just as fierce. Tunisian director Amel Guellaty’s debut feature Where the Wind Comes From is already generating Sundance buzz — a road movie that’s equal parts emotional and electric. Meryem Benm’Barek, whose Sofia wowed at Cannes, is back with Behind the Palm Trees, a slick, psychological dive into love and power set in Tangier.

With Amreeka and May in the Summer, Cherien Dabis carved out space for the messy, beautiful realities of bicultural identity. Her stories aren’t sanitized — they’re deeply personal, rooted in the clash and harmony of growing up Arab in America. Raised between Ohio and Jordan, Dabis brings a raw authenticity to topics like immigration, assimilation, and family. She’s proof that storytelling can be resistance — and healing. “You can affect more change through fiction than politics,” she once said. And honestly? She’s been doing just that.

🔥 Representation Isn’t a Trend — It’s a Movement

These women are showing the world what Arab womanhood looks like — multifaceted, powerful, flawed, vibrant. They are dismantling old tropes and building something better.

And at WISE, we’re here to help amplify that shift. We’re working to empower Arab and WOC storytellers through community, resources, and visibility — because when Arab women thrive in film, everyone wins.

💥 This Month, and Every Month — We See You

Arab American Heritage Month is more than a celebration — it’s a declaration. We see the women pushing boundaries, honoring their identities, and opening doors. Whether on screen, behind the lens, or writing the script — your voice matters.

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WISE celebrates Arab American Heritage Month