The Kitchen with Amirah Tajdin & Abdulla Al Kaabi
The Kitchen with Amirah Tajdin & Abdulla Al Kaabi
Mar 19, 2025 8:00 PM
Mar 2025
@
Filmed closed set
Price: AED
In Partnership with
Booking Opening Soon
This event is sold out.
This event is closed.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
Step into The Kitchen, where real conversations take center stage. This filmed podcast is a space for unfiltered discussions with industry leaders, no filters, just honest dialogue. Successes, challenges, and the changes needed to move industries forward are all on the table.
Inspired by Riot Grrl bands of the 90s and the feminist brevity of her rebel grandmothers, Amirah Tajdin, is a film director and artist whose passion for filmmaking culminated in her pursuing a BA in Fine Art (Photography and Art History) in South Africa and the USA.
Her work is lauded for its nuance, layers, timeliness, poignance, lyricisms, identity politics and the celebration of the marginalized.
Not to mention it takes risks when it comes to performance, casting, art direction and styling. Visually it's rich, bold, new and speaks to the colorful world Amirah descends from, quite literally.
This also translates well into her prolific commercial directing portfolio that has garnered her representation in London, Paris, New York and Dubai.
Tactile, tense and vivid best explains the lived experiences of her characters and their respective journeys. The work transports and transforms audiences because who and what you see on screen is not only relatable it's most likely your experience or one that you can connect with.
Her short film Marea De Tierra, was in competition at Sundance
(2016) and premiered at Directors Fortnight (Cannes) 2015. It went on to show at numerous other film festivals around the world including New York Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Guadalajara and more. She is a Sundance fellow having participated in the Sundance Writers Lab (2017) and Directors Lab
(2018) with what will be her debut feature, Birth Song (previously Hawa Hawaii). Making her the first Kenyan to be a part of its prestigious alumni.
Amirah takes pride in being Black Arab, Kenyan, Muslim, an aesthete, a woman most of all. Her work honors and evokes the strong and black matrilineal kin she descends from and the voices of societies forgotten dreamers.
Negotiating Liberation (2021, 6', Goethe Institute)
Sisterhood: Action (2018, 7')
Tribeca X Award Finalist, Vimeo Staff Pick
Embroidery for a Love Song (2018, 6')
Fries & Feels (2018, 3')
Taga Rito: An Exercise Club in Ill Act (2017, 4')
Minerva's Lilies (2016, 3')
Marea de Tierra, co-réalisé avec Manuela Marteli, Chile, 2015, 15' Quinzaine des Réalisateurs 2015, Festival de Sundance 2016...
Baqala (2015, 3)
His To Keep (2014, 15')
Fluorescent Sin (2012, 10')
Abdulla Al Kaabi is an Emirati Filmmaker. While still studying at the American University of Sharjah, Abdulla became a lead presenter on Dubai TV. He continued at this post for the next four years gaining valuable hands-on experience on production. Knowing that he always wanted to be in the Director’s seat, Abdulla moved to Paris in 2009 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Filmmaking at the École Internationale de Création Audiovisuelle et de Realisation.
Afterwards, Abdulla pursued a career in filmmaking where he directed his first award winning short film, The Philosopher with famed French actor Jean Reno. His second short won two awards at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2014 including Best International Short. His first feature-length film, Only Men Go To The Grave won Best Film at the Dubai International Film Festival 2016.
In 2017, Abdulla founded his own boutique production house, El Booma Films in Dubai. Abdulla’s award winning Emirati production house covers narrative, art, fashion, promotional and commercial films.
In 2019, Abdulla directed the global campaign of Expo 2020: We are the Future Commercial, filmed across 3 continents. As of September 2019, It has garnered more than 29 Million Views on YouTube.
Currently, Abdulla is developing an immersive Audio/ Visual Experience for the future Dubai: Museum of the Sea, commissioned by the Dubai Cultural Authority. It will conclude with a 4D short film written and directed by Abdulla to be on permanent display in the museum. It is scheduled to be inaugurated in September 2020 by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai.
The Philosopher - 2011
Starring Jean Reno
Director & Writer: Abdulla Al Kaabi
Koshk - 2013
Director & Writer: Abdulla Al Kaabi
Only Men Go To The Grave - 2016
Director & Writer: Abdulla Al Kaabi
Born and raised in Dubai, Zahra Lyla Khalil is a celebrated fashion, lifestyle, and creative content pioneer known for her sophisticated approach to digital storytelling and passion for meaningful narratives.
Her time in London, where she pursued her Master’s degree, played a pivotal role in shaping her creative instincts and refining her storytelling skills. This foundation led to a flourishing career where Zahra collaborated with some of the world’s most iconic luxury brands, including Cartier, Dior, and Louis Vuitton.
Zahra also served as an editor at Vogue Arabia, where she was instrumental in launching the 22nd edition of the magazine in the Middle East. Her editorial expertise brought fresh perspectives to the region’s fashion narrative and solidified her reputation as a thought leader in the industry.
Recognizing the need for dynamic and authentic content strategies, Zahra launched The Other Agency in late 2019, a content creation and social media agency dedicated to helping brands humanize their social presence via tailor-made digital storytelling. Her agency has become a trusted partner for luxury brands across the region.
Zahra’s voice extends beyond social media and creative consulting. In 2021, she co-launched the podcast Candid with Haneen & Zahra, where she engages in meaningful conversations with inspiring individuals from the Middle East, shining a light on their mental health journeys and personal growth stories.
With a blend of cultural insight, creative innovation, and entrepreneurial drive, Zahra continues to be a leading voice in the region's creative and digital landscape.
Ahmed El Gamal began his career as an architect before discovering his passion for creative problem-solving and innovation, leading him into the dynamic world of marketing and communications. With over 15 years of experience, he has worked with some of the world’s most recognizable brands across FMCG, tourism, hospitality, real estate, and financial services, gaining a global, multi-industry perspective through his tenures at BBDO, Proximity, Emaar, and MetLife.
As Senior Director of Marketing at a hospitality Group in Dubai, Ahmed leads Global Resort Marketing, driving performance marketing, commercial success, and industry innovation in a highly dynamic industry.
An Executive MBA graduate from IE Business School, he was recognized on the Dean’s List and inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. His entrepreneurial mindset is evident in his role as a partner at Mr. Regimen, an e-commerce startup specializing in men’s grooming, and as the author of The Modern Marketer, a weekly marketing newsletter.
Passionate about mentorship and talent development, Ahmed also serves as Alumni President & Board Chair of IE University UAE, championing collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and industry growth.
With expertise in global marketing strategy, digital transformation, and brand governance, Ahmed is a visionary leader who seamlessly blends data-driven decision-making with creative execution, shaping the future of marketing in an ever-evolving economy.