As a young boy, Mohammed’s passion for movies led him to get a job as an usher at a cinema, and he watched films over and over again, studying the elements that made them work. Now a law graduate in his 20s, he has put what he learnt into practice writing and directing several short movies, the latest of which, “Absence”, has been shortlisted for an award at Dubai’s upcoming Film Festival.

Produced in Arabic with English subtitles, “Absence” is a beautiful and moving exploration of the isolation of the elderly. Mohammed is currently juggling his professional career with several projects, including a commission to produce his first feature-length movie.