DUBAI: Saudi actor Sarah Taibah is capping off 2025 with a slew of film premieres.
The actor most recently attended the premiere of psychological thriller “Hoba” in Abu Dhabi, just days after jetting to London for a screening of the same film at the BFI London Film Festival.
Taibah also stars in “A Matter of Life and Death,” directed by Saudi Anas Ba-Tahaf, that is set to premiere at December’s Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah.
Taibah — an artist, writer, filmmaker and actor — previously told Arab News about her performance in “Hoba,” an Emirati horror film directed by Majid Al-Ansari, known for the critically-acclaimed 2015 film “Zinzana.”
She said: “I got so excited about ‘Hoba’ for two reasons: First, I like the director — I remember seeing his first film, and I thought that he does things differently. Second, I really appreciated him not typecasting me. I’m always cast by directors in certain roles that are really similar to my character — as Sarah — but with Majid, he saw something else. The character couldn’t be more different than me. I’ve never been this challenged — not only because she’s the villain of the movie, but also because it allowed me to experience different techniques, to tap into something a bit supernatural, something I have zero clue how to relate to.”
“Hoba” tells the story of a devoted wife and mother — Amani, played by Bdoor Mohammed — whose life begins to unravel when her husband returns home with a second wife, Zahra (Taibah), and an unseen dark force infiltrates her home.
Taibah will showcase her versatility at the RSIFF, where she will attend the premiere of “A Matter of Life and Death.”
Billed as a quirky love story, the film is set in Jeddah. It follows superstitious Hayat, played by Taibah, who is “convinced a generational curse will kill her on her 30th birthday.”
In addition, the storyline features “the brilliant but shy heart surgeon Yousef (who) suffers from a slow heartbeat, finding his only thrill when holding a scalpel. He grapples with a hidden urge to kill, which he suppresses until he meets Hayat.
“Fate entwines the woman who wants to die and the man who wants to kill, setting a tragic plan in motion. Everything falls into place until a life-affirming love intervenes.”
The film’s publicity adds: “This exceptional tale, brought to life by a witty script and cast, uses the city’s stunning Red Sea scenery to explore the unpredictable beauty of life and connection.”
