Beyond her acting career, Abbass has directed multiple short films and stage plays, along with her debut feature film Inheritance.
The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) has announced that Palestinian actress, writer and director Hiam Abbass will be honoured with the Golden Pyramid Award at its 46th edition, running from November 12 to 21, 2025. The award celebrates her lifelong commitment to portraying stories that embody the resilience and spirit of the Palestinian people and the wider Arab world.
One of CIFF’s highest honours, the Golden Pyramid Award recognises outstanding figures in Egyptian, Arab and international cinema who have made a lasting impact through their artistic contributions.
Abbass, born in Nazareth in 1960, has built a career spanning over a hundred films. She studied photography and theatre in Jerusalem before relocating to Paris in the late 1980s, where she began establishing herself as one of the Arab world’s most acclaimed cinematic voices. Her Arab film credits include Haifa (1996), Divine Intervention (2002), The Gate of the Sun (2004), Paradise Now (2005) and Gaza Mon Amour (2020), created in collaboration with leading regional directors such as Rashid Masharawi, Elia Suleiman and Tarzan and Arab Nasser.
Abbass has also earned global recognition for her performances in international productions including Steven Spielberg’s Munich (2005), Tom McCarthy’s The Visitor (2007) and Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 (2017). On television, she gained widespread acclaim for her roles in HBO’s Succession and Hulu’s Ramy, which showcased her versatility across genres and cultures.
Beyond acting, Abbass has directed short films, stage plays and her feature debut Inheritance (2012), which premiered at both the Venice Film Festival and the Haifa International Film Festival. Her directorial work explores themes of identity, memory and belonging — central motifs that continue to define her artistic journey.
By honouring Hiam Abbass, the Cairo International Film Festival celebrates not only her artistic achievements but also her enduring role in amplifying Palestinian and Arab narratives on the world stage. Her career stands as a testament to the power of cinema to bridge cultures, evoke empathy and give voice to human experience.
