Film Screening Programmed for The Arts Club: Storytelling Through Horror - FIlms by Hana Kazim
On October 6, I will present two short films by Hana Kazim and moderate a discussion with her at The Arts Club Dubai, the 3rd event I’ve programmed for them since November 2025.
For this month’s screening, I was asked to programme a horror related film. I selected two short films directed by Hana Kazim, Makr (2019) and Yathoom (2025) because of her interest in making Arab horror films. Last time I moderated a panel discussion that included her, she said:
“I think every region has its own horror language - we’ve seen Japanese horror, Indian horror, French horror. We don't yet have a language that defines Arab horror, and I think that's because it's very much tied to the culture of faith and about what scares us. We're not scared of the monster in the closet. We're afraid of what the monster in the closet being there means.”
I’m looking forward to expanding on this with Hana, and also discuss what defines Arab horror, what makes it different compared to horror films from other parts of the world, her specific style of writing and filmmaking, and more.
The events at The Arts Club Dubai are exclusive for members and their guests, but I can add a limited number names to the guest list. If you’d like to watch this film, please contact me via this form so I can add you to the guest list. Add “Horror” in the subject line. First come, first serve.
Important note: You cannot just show up, you have to register in advance. Entry is strictly for members and invited guests only.
STORYTELLING THROUGH HORROR: FILMS BY HANA KAZIM
Emirati filmmaker Hana Kazim brings together two of her short films exploring horror as a form of storytelling. Rooted in the region, the films move between the intimate and the unsettling, reflecting on fear, memory, place and the unseen forces that shape our lives.
Makr (2019, 15 min)
A fake exorcist visits the home of a man who thinks his wife is possessed by a Djinn, only to find out that things are not as they seem.
Yathoom (2025, 15 min)
After a devastating car accident claims the lives of her father and brother, 18-year-old Layla is consumed by survivor’s guilt and struggles to reconnect with her grieving mother. Plagued by terrifying episodes of sleep paralysis, her memories begin to distort as the boundary between nightmare and reality dissolves, leading her towards a cosmic reckoning that could either shatter her world or set her free.
Curated by artist, film curator and writer Hind Mezaina, the screening is followed by a discussion with Hana Kazim exploring her approach to horror, her films and the wider landscape of horror cinema emerging from the region.
Date: Tuesday, October 6 at 7.30pm
Venue: The Arts Club, ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC, Dubai (location map)
