HORIZONS OF ARAB CINEMA COMPETITION JURY
Abdelsalam Moussa BIO
Hailing from a family with an illustrious cinematic legacy and a graduate of the High Cinema Institute, Abdelsalam Moussa is a celebrated director of photography with ten cinematography awards to his name. In 2020, he was featured in American Cinematographer magazine as a “Rising Star.”
His diverse body of work spans films, TV series, and commercials with leading Egyptian and international directors. His notable credits include El Sett by Marwan Hamed; Al Garima by Sherif Arafa; Harag we Marag and Abu Saddam by Nadine Khan; Moga Harra and Afrah El Quba by Mohamed Yassin; Bashteri Ragil by Mohamed Aly; Anha by Islam El Azzazy; Walad we Bint and Musawer Qatil by Karim El Adl; Eyar Naari and Daye by Karim El Shenawy; and A Wonderful Way of Dragons, Cactus Flower, and East of Noon by Hala Elkoussy.
Known for his bold color palette, lighting, and innovative visual style, Moussa was fondly nicknamed “The Magician” by the late critic Magdy Eltayeb.
Nadia Dresti BIO
Born in Locarno, Nadia Dresti began her film career as Head of Marketing for 20th Century Fox Switzerland. In 1990, she founded her own PR and film marketing company in Geneva, collaborating with the Locarno Film Festival, the Cannes Marché du Film, and the European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlinale.
In 2000, she created Locarno Pro, leading it for two decades and transforming it into a major hub for film industry professionals. She also helped launch Open Doors in 2003, supporting independent cinema in vulnerable regions. Dresti was appointed Delegate to the Artistic Direction in 2006 and later served as Deputy Artistic Director ad interim in 2022.
Formerly Director of the Ticino Film Commission, she was a member of the Swiss Federal Commission of Cinema (2012–2019) and became Vice President of UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein in 2019. She has been on the Locarno Film Festival Board of Directors since 2022, serving as Industry Advisory Board Coordinator.
Karim Aïtouna BIO
Karim Aïtouna is a film producer working between France and Morocco. He studied law, film, and cultural management, His portfolio spans both fiction and documentary, reflecting his dedication to supporting diverse storytelling across borders. His productions have screened at major international festivals, including Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Toronto, and Sundance.
Among his notable works are Anna Roussillon’s award-winning I Am the People (Cannes 2014), David Yon’s The Night and the Kid (Berlinale 2015), Philip Scheffner’s Europe (Berlinale 2022), Amel Guellaty’s Where the Wind Comes From (Sundance 2025), and Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s A Useful Ghost (Grand Award, International Critics’ Week, Cannes 2025).