Mahmoud Kaabour

Mr. Kaabour's storytelling is shaped by an amalgamation of memories of cities he has visited. Years of travel, capturing faces and chatter around the world, have brought him so close to the everyday folk who might seem ordinary on a first glance. In his documentary films, they become heroes who shed light on our humanity.

As a speaker, Mr. Kaabour doesn`t orate or preach. He tells engaging anecdotes in as personal a way as possible from (and around) the films he has made. These stories span contrasting countries and highlight the charming and odd characters who contributed to his storytelling. They also highlight the complex socio-political worlds in which the films were made, from post 9-11 N America to the labor camps of Dubai. Global Topspeaker Kaabour tries to speak genuinely and does not hide his vulnerabilities during his journey. How else can he leaves his listeners reflecting on their own?

Further language:

• Arabic

Special Awards:

• Best Production Award for ´Champ of the Camp` at Digital Studio Awards 2013
• Audience Award for Best Documentary at Doha Tribeca Film Festival for ´Grandma, a Thousand Times`
• Best Film at London Int'l Documentary Festival for ´Grandma, a Thousand Times`
• Best Film at Mumbai film Festival for ´Grandma, a Thousand Times`
• Audience Award at Dox Box for ´Grandma, a Thousand Times`
• Jury Special Mention at Doha Tribeca for ´Grandma, a Thousand Times`
• Jury Special Mention at DocsDF Mexico for ´Grandma, a Thousand Times`
• Anasy Best Script Award for ´The Champ of the Camp`
• Best Documentary at Canadian National Youth Film Festival for ´Being Osama`
• 'Best Doc' at the Juried Screenings of the University Film/Video Association Conference (August 7, 2004), Ohio
• Finalist for the 2005 Award of Excellence in combating racism with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation
• 'Humanitarian of the Year' at Esquire Magazine's 2014 'Man at His Best' awards

Press Commentaries:

• On Mr Kaabour’s ´Champ of the Camp`:
  • ´A rare and touching look at the lives of Dubai’s migrant laborers` – CNN
  • ´Gives voice to the hundreds of thousands of otherwise faceless workers who make cities like Dubai what they are today` –BBC
  • ´Slick…A popular charmer` - VARIETY
• On Mr. Kaabour’s ´Grandma, a Thousand Times`
  • ´Delightful, warm hearted and defiantly unsentimental` – THE NEW YORK TIMES
  • ´Magical` – THE HUFFINGTON POST
  • ´A genial, often hilarious crowd-pleaser` -VARIETY