FESTIVAL TEAM

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Shady Makary is an Egyptian filmmaker and entrepreneur whose career in cinema began as a passionate volunteer at the Dubai International Film Festival. After contributing to multiple editions of the festival, he rose to become its Box Office Manager, gaining hands-on experience in film exhibition and audience engagement. Throughout his career, Shady collaborated with several leading film distributors in the MENA region—including Front Row Filmed Entertainment, Italia Films, Empire Films, and others—broadening his expertise in distribution and regional market dynamics.

He also served as a Social Media Executive at eMatterz, the MENA region’s largest media and promotions agency, where he honed his skills in digital marketing and audience outreach. In 2012, Shady founded Movie Buffs Productions, a company dedicated to film promotion and distribution, reflecting his commitment to supporting cinema across diverse platforms.

Since relocating to the United States in 2013, Shady has remained actively involved in championing Arabic cinema across the U.S. and Canada, continuing to bridge cultures through film and storytelling.

 Elias Doummar is a Lebanese cinema critic known for his sharp insights and deep passion for film. He writes for Nidaa Al Watan and hosts a weekly cinema segment on MTV, where he highlights notable regional and international releases. Elias also contributes to the film festival circuit as a board member and programmer for the Beirut International Film Festival and the Lebanese Film Festival in Sydney. From 2017 to 2019, he served as Cinema Advisor at the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, helping shape initiatives that support and promote Lebanese cinema. 

 Mohamed Maher is a distinguished Egyptian journalist and the U.S. correspondent for Egypt’s Al-Masry Al-Youm and the UAE’s Al-Ain News. Based in the United States, he has built a prominent career covering major national and global events, including multiple U.S. presidential elections and the Academy Awards. Known for his insightful reporting and on-the-ground analysis, Maher continues to bridge international audiences with American political, cultural, and social developments. 

Julia Habchi is a Florida-based Lebanese-American filmmaker and award-winning writer-director, born and raised in the UAE. Described by peers and professors — including a Nobel laureate — as “the Hitchcock of the 21st century,” she is known for suspenseful, immersive films that blend modern storytelling with historical depth.

She wrote her first script at 17 and directed the acclaimed thriller A Sandwich for the Witch at 18. Now 23, she is the Founder and CEO of NightWriter Productions, overseeing its film and music subsidiaries. A Raindance Film School graduate, Habchi is committed to elevating cinema through sophisticated, original, and purposeful storytelling.

Micheline Maalouf is a licensed mental health counselor, speaker, and cultural advocate who is redefining how the Arab diaspora thinks and talks about mental health. As a proud Arab America Foundation “40 Under 40” honoree, she has been recognized for her leadership, impact, and commitment to uplifting her community.

Through her trauma-informed and decolonial approach, Micheline helps individuals reclaim their stories and heal in ways that honor both culture and identity. With an audience of more than 1.4 million people worldwide, she uses her platform to challenge stigma, celebrate Arab resilience, and remind people that vulnerability is a form of strength.

Micheline is honored to emcee this year’s Arab Film Festival — a space where Arab voices take center stage, creativity becomes resistance, and storytelling becomes liberation.

Foad Zabaneh is a 2-time Emmy Award Winning News Photographer, and a highly skilled Filmmaker with over 15 years' experience in Film and Video editing. 
Foad is originally from Egypt, living in Florida. 
He was Graduated from Christian Brothers School in Cairo Egypt. 
Then he earned in bachelor's degree from the University of North Florida with a Major of Communications and TV production and a minor in Documentary filmmaking. 
He works at WESH News 2 based in Orlando Florida as a News Photojournalist. 
Over the years Foad gained Skills in Filmmaking and has a proven track record of producing high-quality content that not only informs and educates but also captivates audiences.
In His free time, Fouad loves to play music, especially at Church, he is a top Universal Studios Fan. 
But what he enjoys the most is spending time with family, Raja, Lily his parents, and Karim, his younger brother who is a professionally trained Opera Singer. 

Fun fact: Foad’s voice has been featured in Arabic-language versions of Disney classics like Finding Nemoand the Incredibles. He was also the original Arabic singing voice of Junior Asparagus from VeggieTales.