Sam Abbas
Sam Abbas | |
|---|---|
| File:Abbas MoMA Premiere.jpg Abbas at the Museum of Modern Art | |
| Born | 11 November 1993 |
| Nationality | Egyptian, American |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, actor, producer |
| Notable work | Europe's New Faces, The Wedding, Alia's Birth, Marie |
| Website | https://samabbasfilms.com |
Sam Abbas (Arabic: سام عباس; born November 11, 1993) is an Egyptian-American filmmaker known for his roles as a director, screenwriter, and producer.[1] He is acclaimed for his visually poetic and artistically crafted cinematic approach.[2][3]
Career
Prior to his debut feature-length film, Abbas gained recognition for his short film Time to Come, which was hailed by LogoTV as "a deeply impactful project".[4]
In 2018, Abbas served as executive producer on Lavender, directed by Matthew Puccini. The short film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and later at 2019 SXSW, quickly securing acquisition by Fox Searchlight Pictures, marking one of the earliest Sundance pickups that year.[5]
The trailer for Abbas' first feature, The Wedding, was exclusively launched by The Hollywood Reporter in August 2018. The film garnered attention as "the queer film poised to create impact in the Middle East" and saw a discreet theatrical release throughout the region in November 2018.[6][7]
Abbas' sophomore feature, Alia's Birth, attracted notice through a unique female-focused short film competition incorporated into its storyline. The cast features performances by Nikohl Boosheri, Poorna Jagannathan, Samuel H. Levine, and Maya Kazan.[8][9] The film had its premiere on August 26, 2021.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
On July 13, 2020, Abbas released Rusted Caravaggios, a short documentary capturing the reopening of the Louvre Museum following a four-month shutdown.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Shortly thereafter, Variety disclosed that Abbas collaborated with prominent cinematographers worldwide to produce and curate the pandemic-era documentary collection titled Erēmīta (Anthologies).[10]
Subsequently, Deadline announced two projects by Abbas centered on migration: a short titled Obstaculum and a feature-length film called Europe's New Faces. Abbas took on directing, producing, cinematography, and editing duties for both films. Released on November 27, 2024, Obstaculum depicts migrants from West and East Africa residing in an abandoned Parisian art school.[11][12]
The feature film Europe's New Faces was revealed on January 15, 2025, featuring a musical score by filmmaker-composer Bertrand Bonello, recognized for works such as The Beast and Saint Laurent. [13]
ArabQ
Abbas established ArabQ in 2018, marking it as the pioneering Arab film production company dedicated to LGBTQ-centered narratives. The launch took place at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival. The company's inaugural project was Abbas' feature-length film The Wedding, which he wrote, directed, and performed in alongside Nikohl Boosheri. Headquartered in Egypt, ArabQ aimed to advance queer storytelling with a focus on Middle Eastern perspectives. The company discontinued its activities in 2020.
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | Cinematographer | Actor | |||
| 2016 | Time to Come | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2018 | I want more, I want less | Yes | |||||
| 2018 | The Wedding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2019 | Lavender | Yes | Executive producer | ||||
| 2020 | Marie | Yes | Yes | Eligible for the 93rd Academy Awards | |||
| 2020 | Alia's Birth | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| 2020 | Rusted Caravaggios | Yes | Yes | Premiered exclusively on Deadline | |||
| 2021 | Erēmīta (Anthologies) | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| 2023 | Obstaculum | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | One-week short film release announced on Deadline | |
| 2025 | Europe's New Faces | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
External links
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