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Nashwa Al Ruwaini aims to tackle Arab stereotypes through initiatives launched during MEIFF 2008


Nashwa Al Ruwaini, recently returned from Los Angeles after launching MOST at the Paley Center for Media, aims to tackle Arab stereotypes in the Western media through several initiatives launched during the second Middle East International Film Festival. Among them is MOST, short for Muslims on Screen and Television, which aims to shed light on the image of Muslims in the Arab World, especially in the mediums of film and television.

MOST was launched in partnership with the Saban Center at the Brookings Institution, Unity Production Foundation, Gallup and One National Media Initiative and will provide the Hollywood creative community with resources and accurate information about Muslims in the West and around the world. Through her company, Pyramedia, Nashwa aims to tackle negative Arab stereotypes through the media and establish more authentic representations of Arabs and Muslims while establishing an internal dialogue between the Islamic World and the West.

“MEIFF laid the foundation down to establish a link between the Arab World and the West and with the establishment of MOST, there is now a bridge between those in film, television and different media in the U.S. and the Arab and Muslim World,” said Nashwa. “If we can highlight to the world that our part of the world has more to offer its people than oppression and terrorist sentiments then people in the West will start to view the Arab World in a different light.”

In addition to MOST, a chapter of WIFT, Women in Film and Television, has been launched in Abu Dhabi. WIFT aims to give a voice to women in the entertainment industry and responds to the needs of local women filmmakers. The UAE chapter aims to give professional support, networking and recognition to women in the industry while helping women create viable business plans for international film co-productions.

Over the past 18 years Nashwa has become an accomplished media personality with her talk show, ‘Nashwa’, and her own production company, Pyramedia, which has offices in London, Cairo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and New York and has produced hits such as ‘Millions’ Poet’ and ‘Prince of Poet’s’ TV competitions on Abu Dhabi TV.

More recently, Nashwa was awarded the Gold prize at the Tenth Gulf Radio and Television Production Festival held in Bahrain for her show ‘Nashwa’ and landed a coveted spot for the second time on Forbes Arabia’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Businesswomen in the Arab World.