Karim Shaaban

Karim Shaaban’s name has been bouncing around the Arab film scene for years, and honestly, it’s about time people outside the region started paying attention. The guy’s got chops—he’s not just another director trying to break into the big leagues; he’s already made his mark, especially with commercials that everyone’s seen (even if they don’t realize it’s him behind the camera). Remember that short film NIGHTSHIFT that popped up on YouTube and just wouldn’t quit? Yeah, that was him. Over 700,000 views and counting. Not exactly a small-time gig. His latest short, I DON’T CARE IF THE WORLD COLLAPSES, premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival, and snagged Salma Abu Deif for the lead—she’s basically Egyptian acting royalty at this point. People who saw it keep talking about it, so you know it hit a nerve somewhere. Now, he’s knee-deep in shooting his first feature, 6 DAYS. This isn’t just some indie passion project either; Sea Cinema Productions is backing it up, and he’s pulled in Ahmed Malek and Aya Samaha for the main roles. Both of them are serious talents—like, the kind of actors who can carry a movie even if the script’s weak. But knowing Karim’s track record, the script’s probably anything but weak. So yeah, Karim Shaaban’s not just another name in the credits. He’s one of those rare directors who can take something as short as a commercial and make people feel something—and now he’s bringing that to the big screen. Kinda makes you wonder what he’ll do next.