Nadine Labaki, the Lebanese director of Capernaum, remains a leading voice in Arabic and Middle Eastern cinema. Capernaum is the highest-grossing Arabic and Middle Eastern film of all time, with worldwide box office topping more than 68 million dollars. In an in-depth career talk, Labaki explained how challenging it is to produce cinema in the Arab region, citing funding hurdles, limited local infrastructure, and the complexities of telling sensitive social stories. She also discussed her approach to casting, often working with non-actors to achieve raw, authentic performances and social realism. On the funding side, Labaki addressed the influence of Arab funders while stressing the importance of creative autonomy and avoiding external agendas from Western funders. The discussion underscored how cinema can serve as a conduit for pent-up anger and resilience, enabling Arab filmmakers to craft stories with both local relevance and universal appeal.