Sam Abbas

Sam Abbas (Arabic: سام عباس; born 11 November 1993) is an Egyptian film director, screenwriter, and producer.[1] He is noted for his artfully composed, poetic, and incident-like tableaus film style.[2][3]

Sam Abbas
Abbas at The Wedding premiere in NYC
Born (1993-11-11) 11 November 1993
Alexandria, Egypt
NationalityEgyptian, American
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, actor, producer
Notable workMarie (2020)
Websitehttps://samabbasfilms.com

Career

Prior to his first feature, Abbas's short film Time to Come was labeled as "a really powerful project," by LogoTV.[4][5]

In 2018, Abbas executive produced Lavender by Matthew Puccini which screened at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival followed by the 2019 SXSW. The film was immediately picked up by Fox Searchlight Pictures, making it one of the first films bought at Sundance that year.[6]

The Hollywood Reporter exclusively released the trailer for Abbas' first full-length feature, The Wedding, in August 2018. Immediately after the trailer's release, the film was called, "the queer movie that could make waves in the Middle East" and "a film that will make a fuss in theaters".[7][8] In November 2018 the film was released theatrically and secretly throughout the Middle East.[9]

Abbas' Alia's Birth, his second full-length feature, received attention following the announcement of a female-driven short film contest in which the winner gets to have their film included within the narrative. The film stars Nikohl Boosheri, Poorna Jagannathan, Samuel H. Levine and Maya Kazan.[10][11][12]

On July 13, 2020, Abbas released a 2.5 minute short documentary, Rusted Caravaggios, about the first public invitation to the Louvre Museum (Monday July 6, 2020) following an unprecedented four-month closure.[13]

Shortly after Variety Magazine revealed that Abbas had teamed with leading cinematographers from around the world to create the documentary Erēmīta (Anthologies).[14] The anthology of shorts composed during the 2020 pandemic was both produced and curated by Abbas.

ArabQ

In 2018 Abbas launched ArabQ, the first Arab-based film production company focusing on movies with LGBTQ themes, during the 68th Berlin International Film Festival.[1] ArabQ launched with Abbas' feature film debut, The Wedding, which he wrote, directed, and starred in alongside Nikohl Boosheri.[15][16][17][18] Abbas placed the company in Egypt to encourage more queer cinema with Middle East ties.[19]

The company closed in 2020.[20]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Functioned as Notes
Director Writer Producer Cinematographer Actor
2016 Time to Come Yes Yes Yes Yes
2018 I want more, I want less[21] Yes
2018 The Wedding Yes Yes Yes Yes
2019 Lavender Yes Executive Producer[22][23]
2020 Marie (2020) Yes Yes Eligible for the 93rd Academy Awards[24]
2020 Alia's Birth Yes Yes Yes
2020 Rusted Caravaggios Yes Yes Premiered Exclusively on Deadline[25]
2021 Erēmīta (Anthologies) Yes Yes Yes

References
  1. "Berlin: Egyptian Filmmaker Launches LGBTQ-Focused Production Company". HollywoodReporter.com. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  2. "Egyptian Filmmaker Sam Abbas Captures Reopening of Louvre Museum". Variety. 2020-07-18.
  3. "'The Wedding' Trailer: The Egyptian Queer Film Getting Secret Screenings in the Middle East". IndieWire. 2018-08-24.
  4. "Gay Muslim Torn Between Love And Family In Sam Abbas' "Time To Come"". Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  5. "The GLAAD Wrap: Tribeca line up announced; Jonathan Groff books lead role in Netflix show; and more!". Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  6. "Sundance: Fox Searchlight Picks Up Short Film 'Lavender'". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  7. "'Catch A Sneak Peek At The Queer Movie That Could Make Waves In The Middle East". Huffington Post. 2018-08-23.
  8. ""الزفاف": قصة شاب يعيش صراعاً داخلياً للتوفيق بين مثليته ودينه وزفافه". Raseef22. 24 August 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  9. "The Wedding Trailer: Closeted Muslim Man Prepares for Straight Wedding (Exclusive)". HollywoodReporter.com. 2018-08-23.
  10. "Egyptian Director Sam Abbas Launches Contest for Female Filmmakers (Exclusive)". thr.com. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  11. "'The Night Of,' 'The Bold Type' Stars to Lead LGBTQ Drama 'Alia's Birth' (Exclusive)". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  12. "'Actors Samuel H. Levine (Bull, Red Oaks), Maya Kazan (The Unicorn, Boardwalk Empire), and Edward Akrout (Turn, Gypsy) have been added to the cast of Sam Abbas' indie drama, Alia's Birth". Deadline. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  13. "Go Inside The Paris Louvre After 4-Month Closure With Short Film 'Rusted Caravaggios'". Deadline. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  14. "'Documentary Anthology Shot By Sam Abbas During Pandemic Plans Winter Festival Run'". Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  15. "Nikohl Boosheri, Sam Abbas Star In 'The Wedding'". Deadline. 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  16. "Sam Abbas Star In 'The Wedding'". yahoo.com. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  17. "Deep Inside Hollywood". Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  18. "Vancouver-raised actor Nikohl Boosheri will star in The Wedding with Sam Abbas". Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  19. "Egyptian Filmmaker Sam Abbas". glaad.org. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  20. Vivarelli, Nick (2020-10-28). "Egyptian Filmmaker Sam Abbas Shutters LGBTQ Shingle ArabQ, Launches New Outfit (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
  21. "'I want more, I want less interview'". Retrieved 2018-11-27.
  22. "'Lavender'". Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  23. "'Lavender' - LGBT Short Film". Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  24. "Marie an observation of labor during a home-birth". FILM-NEWS.CO.UK. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  25. "'Rusted Caravaggios'". Retrieved 2020-07-16.
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