Mona Zaki Makes Her Production Debut with “Alone” at the Hollywood Arab Film Festival
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Egyptian star Mona Zaki is stepping into film production for the first time with the short film “Alone,” which has been selected for the short films program at the 5th Hollywood Arab Film Festival, scheduled for April 17 to 20, 2026 at The Culver Theatre in Los Angeles.
Written and directed by Mona Daoud, “Alone” is set to have its world premiere as part of the festival’s short film competition, marking a notable expansion in Zaki’s career beyond acting and into content production.
According to the available synopsis, the film follows an elderly woman slipping into dementia while refusing to acknowledge her condition, alongside the emotional burden carried by the young caregiver looking after her. The story places loneliness, vulnerability and care work at the center of its dramatic treatment.
The project is tied to HerStory Films, the production company co-founded by Mona Zaki and May Abdel Asim, which says its mission is to support and empower female filmmakers in Egypt and the Arab world. That gives the film a wider significance beyond festival participation, linking it to a broader effort to back women-led storytelling in regional cinema.
With this move, Zaki is not only appearing on screen but also helping shape the stories being brought to it, signaling a new professional direction that could deepen her role in Arab cinema in the years ahead. This final sentence is an editorial inference based on the announced project and company mission.
