The Arts Edit: How tariffs could impact Arab film

Welcome to the latest edition of The Arts Edit, the weekly newsletter from The National's Abu Dhabi newsroom rounding up this week's most noteworthy arts and culture stories. IN FOCUS Who benefits from US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on films made “in foreign lands”? That is the question I keep asking myself. On Sunday, Mr Trump proposed a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the US , which has left the movie industry around the world in a state of confusion and mild panic. The plan is intended to benefit Hollywood, which has been losing film production increasingly to overseas and to Canada in the past decade, as many countries offer tax incentives to attract big-budget productions. The Mena region has become a hotspot for Hollywood film production, particularly the UAE , Jordan, Saudi Arabia , Qatar, Morocco and Tunisia. Hollywood, notably, has not welcomed the proposed tariffs, with many industry figures having a hard time imagining how they would bring benefits. This is for two major reasons: first, filming in the United States is expensive – which is why incentive plans have become a necessary part of the process for many major films. The initial proposal does not address this issue. Second, movie productions do not go abroad for exclusively financial reasons. Projects such as the Mission: Impossible series were able to pull off certain action set pieces thanks to Abu Dhabi’s unique regulatory and logistical capabilities. And where in the United States could director Denis Villeneuve convey the majesty of Dune better than in the deserts of Abu Dhabi and Jordan? Major films choose the UAE predominantly for creative reasons, according to Qais Qandil, the Jordanian founder of The Film Makers. The Emirati production company brought international projects such as The Misfits and Beyond the Likes to the UAE. “A tariff such as this risks penalising US productions that choose global locations like the UAE not for cost alone, but for world-class infrastructure and cinematic value. It could discourage the very partnerships that have made modern filmmaking thrive,” Qandil tells The National . The tariffs, if enacted, could affect the Arab film industry in myriad ways. Hollywood productions in the region could slow. Films that have exclusively regional box office ambitions would be largely unaffected. However, the tariffs could impact the ability of Arab films to be recognised on the world stage, effectively blocking access to the Oscars if they cannot be screened at US cinemas and festivals. And the implication for streaming is an open question. I spoke to five figures from the industry on how such a move could affect them and their peers, which you can read here . It is unclear exactly what will happen next. The White House has released a statement clarifying that the tariffs are very much still in the planning stage. Mr Trump told reporters on Monday that he will meet representatives from the US film industry to discuss his plan, adding: “I'm not looking to hurt the industry. I want to help the industry.” California Governor Gavin Newsom responded by proposing a $7.5 billion incentive plan to boost Hollywood production. That model makes sense. After all, incentive plans in countries such as the UAE, Jordan and Morocco have not only boosted production, but also helped to foster the next generation of talent. What should be paramount is making sure the question of who benefits is answered, and answered comprehensively. Hopefully then it will be clear that, when the industry is thriving around the world, everyone stands to benefit. The National 's Arts & Culture team is proud to unveil our list of the most important Arabic language novels of the 21st century. This century has been a turning point for Arabic literature, in which conventions, from genre to narrative, have been disrupted and reimagined. While the Arabic novel was once largely defined by political themes and questions of identity – shaped by a turbulent colonial past – today’s writers have pushed those concerns to explore them through style, setting and form. From refugee camps in Ramallah and psychiatric wards in Baghdad to the alleyways of Makkah, the stories – and the landscapes – are as varied as the traumas uncovered. Exile, dislocation and hope run through many of these books, sometimes conveyed in unflinching, reportorial prose and other times through allegory or sweeping historical fiction. While Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine remain literary strongholds, voices from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and Algeria have also emerged to underscore the dynamism of Arabic literature. Working alongside the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre – and with the input of more than 50 authors, publishers, experts, festival organisers and prize jurors from across Mena, including the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction – we selected the 50 most important Arabic novels of the first quarter of the 21st century. Presented in alphabetical order by country, this list only scratches the surface of the remarkable work produced in the region. It is not meant to be a definitive list, but rather a guide and a tribute to the vibrant literary voices whose work brings nuance and depth to a misunderstood region, while also pointing to an exciting literary future. Find the list here . First impressions of Zadie Xa ’s presentation at the Sharjah Biennial are largely dependent on what stage of the work you happen to walk into. The soothing colours of dusks and dawns dominate the room at Sharjah’s Al Hamriyah Studio , but it is the work’s sound components, emanating through hanging sea shells, that largely inform the mood. You may walk in to wind chimes, the shush of waves rolling ashore, and the whistle of whales. Or you may be greeted with the trilling of a telephone, the frantic clicks of Morse code – and feel the anxiety of a call unanswered, the spookiness of an untraceable and undecipherable message, or the rage of a spurned one. Then there are the melodies, ringing in sustained and haunting pitches, permeating the space with a spectral essence. But no matter when you happen to enter the space, stay long enough and the mysticism of the work will mesmerise you. Moonlit Confessions Across Deep Sea Echoes: Your Ancestors Are Whales, and Earth Remembers Everything comprises several elements, from paintings to installation and sound. But it is perhaps best to consider it as a single holistic piece. Find out why here . DATES FOR YOUR DIARY · Carmina Burana – The Ballet at Dubai Opera – May 23 and 24 · Guns N' Roses at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi – May 27 · Mary J Blige at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai – June 24 OTHER HIGHLIGHTS