AUS film professor’s short film Halal Dreams premieres in New York, Los Angeles and Sockcho

Set against the restless backdrop of New York City, Mamdouh’s film captures the  quiet heartache of a halal cart worker in Times Square, far from his family and home

Photo caption: The Halal Dreams team at the entrance of Cinema Village, the iconic venue of the New York Short Film Festival.

Building on a string of international successes, Halal Dreams, the latest film by award-winning Assistant Professor Mohammed Mamdouh from the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), premiered in November at the prestigious New York Short Film Festival. The docudrama has already won ten international awards at festivals in the USA, Thailand and Russia and will also be featured at the Culver City Film Festival in Los Angeles, the London Global Film Awards and was also featured at the Sockcho International Food Film Festival in South Korea in October.

The story follows an Egyptian halal cart worker on a cold night in New York City, as he struggles to stay connected to his daughter while navigating life in a city that never stands still.

“For me, this story is about distance and belonging,” said Mamdouh. “Even when we are far from home, there are things that keep us grounded: the people we love and the memories we carry.”

Photo caption: Still from Halal Dreams taken during the screening at the New York Short Film Festival.

The film follows the success of Mamdouh’s previous short film, The Keyboard, written by his wife, Jumana Radi, an executive producer at Electric Lime Films. The Keyboard has been officially selected for more than 30 international film festivals and has received ten awards, including Best Experimental Film in New York, Tokyo, and London. It was recently named a finalist at the Izmit International Film Festival in Turkey.

“These recognitions mean a lot,” said Mamdouh. “They remind me that the stories we create here in Sharjah can connect with people everywhere.”

Photo caption: Still from Halal Dreams.

Among its international awards, Halal Dreams received Best Docudrama award from the Los Angeles Short Film Award. It was also one of only 15 films selected for premiere from more than a thousand submissions at the Sokcho International Food Film Festival in South Korea.

At AUS, Mamdouh lectures on a broad range of topics including film production, screenwriting, AI, documentary film, media systems and publishing. He has over 19 years of experience in the UAE’s media landscape, spanning filmmaking, advertising, brand management, and education. He is passionate about mentoring the next generation of visual storytellers.

At CAAD, Mamdouh has helped grow the college’s film program, providing students and faculty with opportunities to explore cinematic storytelling through hands-on production and international exposure. The program has welcomed acclaimed filmmakers for guest lectures and workshops, while maintaining close ties to the regional film scene through initiatives such as an early screening of Hoba ahead of its release and the participation of CAAD students and alumni in the production of City of Life: Continuum.

Poster Credit: Designed by Amar Tello, AUS visual communication alumna and former CAAD student.

From student films winning awards at leading festivals to faculty work premiering internationally, AUS’ reputation as a hub for film education and independent cinema continues to grow.

Watch the trailer for Halal Dreams here.

For more information about AUS’ Department of Art and Design, as well as its Bachelor of Science in Film and New Media Design, visit www.aus.edu/caad/department-of-art-and-design.