Alaa Karkouti

Alaa Karkouti is one of the most internationally recognized figures in the Arab film, media, and entertainment sectors. For nearly two decades, he has championed Arab cinema on the world stage. 
As the co-founder and CEO of MAD Solutions, the leading distributor of Arabic film content, Karkouti has expanded the global audience for Arab storytellers. His efforts have led to significant co-productions between MENA and countries in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Karkouti’s contributions go beyond film distribution. MAD Solutions also excels in talent management, aiming to nurture and elevate the careers of Arab actors and filmmakers both regionally and globally. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Arab Cinema Center (ACC), a networking hub for Arab and international film professionals. ACC’s initiatives include publishing the Arab Cinema Magazine and launching the Arab Film Critics’ Awards.
A journalist and magazine publisher with a deep understanding of the economics of filmmaking, Karkouti is a leading authority on the Arab film industry. His expertise has led to numerous opportunities to serve on panels and juries at international film festivals. Karkouti’s career includes a commitment to workshops and seminars at major film festivals and networking sessions organized by the European Film Commission. Before founding MAD Solutions in 2010, he worked in film distribution, production, and theatre management, and published several prominent magazines. As a journalist, Karkouti has interviewed major movie stars and written for esteemed publications like Forbes Middle East, Variety, and Screen International. He also published the first-ever list of the 50 most powerful people in the Arab film industry.