Emirati director tapped to participate in Cannes-previewed adaptation of The Prophet

Mohammed Saeed Harib was one of only nine directors – and the only Arab – to be chosen to participate in the animated adaptation of the Khalil Gibran classic.

A scene from The Prophet by Salma Hayek, which had a work-in-progress preview at Cannes 2014. Nine different directors are directing segments of the animated film inspired by Kahlil Gibran's classic tale. Courtesy Cannes Film FestivalShow less

In between working on his cartoon show Freej, Mohammed Saeed Harib has been devoted to a project produced by Salma Hayek and funded by the Doha Film Institute – an animated adaptation of the Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran’s 1923 philosophy classic The Prophet. It features the voice of Liam Neeson, while Hayek voices a supporting character.

Harib was picked to be one of the nine directors from around the world to direct a chapter of the book within The Prophet, all brought together by the Lion King director Roger Allers.

Harib says being the only Arab among them, and the only director who hasn’t won or been nominated for an Oscar, was a challenge. “Each director had the freedom to choose whatever style he wanted, to put his vision into it,” explains Harib. “It took me one year to produce a three-and-a-half-minute piece.”

The story is a series of philosophical poems, with each “chapter” of the movie covering a different theme such as Love, Marriage, Death, Crime and Punishment, and Good and Evil, which is Harib’s segment.

“Good and Evil is about taking a path,” says the director. “Some people go on life’s journey with bold steps. Others dwell until they find themselves and take small steps, though they still reach their goal. I saw this in myself – it took me until I was 21 to blossom into my own.”

The film was previewed in Cannes as a work in progress and is due out next year.

“I heard good feedback about it from Cannes,” says an upbeat Harib. “It’s one of those movies that is trying to do something different. So I hope it will be regarded for festivals and awards. That would be awesome.”