Emirati Director on Toronto Red Carpet

Emirati Director Mohammed Saeed Harib has been chosen among nine internationally renowned directors to participate in the animated film adaptation of Khalil Gibran’s 1923 classic The Prophet. Harib, director of critically acclaimed Emirati three-dimensional computer animated show Freej is the only Arab director on the team of nine. Directors were each given a segment from this classic text and brought it to life with their own unique, creative vision. Segments are taken from Gibran’s beautiful lyrical essays on love, work, marriage, children, and freedom.

The Prophet had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this week. Spearheading this project are actor-producer Salma Hayek-Pinault and Disney legacy Roger Allers, known for being screenwriter of Disney classics like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, and as director of an all-time favorite, The Lion King.

In the book, Almustafa is a poet who is beloved in the city of Orphalese, and after twelve years, he prepares to catch a boat that will take him home. Before he leaves, a girl named Almitra asks him to share some thoughts before he goes, leading to a series of twenty-six poems on topics like love, marriage, work, joy and sorrow, laws, freedom, friendship, and more.

This adaptation of The Prophet is no ordinary film- it is a captivating visual, musical, and spiritually uplifting experience and hopes to take audiences on Gibran’s poetic and profound journey.

Don’t miss updates from Mohammed Saeed Harib. Follow him on Twitter @MSHARIB and keep up with the latest from the Toronto Film Festival.

Have you seen this animated adaptation of The Prophet or read the book? Did the movie represent Khalil Gibran’s book well? Tell us what you think in the comments below!