Egyptian film director Abu Bakr Shawky and actor Amr Waked have both been featured in this year’s Forbes "Arab Stars On The Global Stage" list, which came out this week.

The new annual ranking features 30 of the biggest Arab and Arab-origin stars, among them five Egyptians.

Forbes writes that Shawky’s film Youmeddine was screened at Cannes, where it received a standing ovation. It was awarded the Francois Chalais Award at the festival, and was nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or.

“Shawky's other short films such as The Colony, Things I Heard On Wednesdays and Martyr Friday have screened at festivals around the world. He founded his production company Desert Highway Pictures in 2014 along with his wife [Dina] Emam."

Waked made his first Hollywood appearance in Stephen Gaghan's Syriana in 2005, alongside stars George Clooney and Matt Damon.

"He later starred in another TV series called House of Saddam as the late dictator's son-in -law in 2008. He also co-starred in the British film Salmon Fishing in The Yemen and the Italian drama film The Father and The Foreigner in 2011,” Forbes writes.

“Waked rose to fame globally after playing a French detective in Scarlett Johansson starrer Lucy that went on to net $463.4 million, according to Box Office Mojo. He also did a secondary role in the science fiction movie Geostorm in 2017. The 46-year-old actor turned producer after

he co-established Zad Communication & Production LLC in 2005, which produced its first feature film Winter of Discontent in 2012."

The complete list of Arab Stars includes 13 singers, 6 directors, 3 actors, 7 fashion designers and one footballer, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.
Lebanese singer Fairouz is named “All Time Favourite", leading the prominent Lebanese presence on the list which includes, all seven fashion designers, five other singers and two directors, Nadine Labaki and Ziad Doueri. 

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