[link=/name/nm7393303]Sophie Thatcher[/link], [link=/name/nm8707186]Lalisa Manoban[/link], and more stars who are on the rise in 2025.

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<a class="ipc-md-link" href="/name/nm7393303?ref_=nmtrv_eds_right-3_lk">Sophie Thatcher</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link" href="/name/nm8707186?ref_=nmtrv_eds_right-3_lk">Lalisa Manoban</a>, and more stars who are on the rise in 2025.

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IMDb's 2025 TV Guide

Take a peek at the biggest new and returning series coming to your screens in 2025, including new seasons of &quot;The Last of Us,&quot; &quot;The White Lotus,&quot; and &quot;Wednesday.&quot;

Born in Dubai, Mahdi Fleifel lives and works between Denmark, England, and Greece. A graduate of the British National Film & Television School, he founded the London-based production company Nakba FilmWorks in 2010.

Fleifel's latest film, TO A LAND UNKNOWN, premiered at the Directors' Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) at Cannes 2024 to critical and audience acclaim. With over 100 festival screenings, 20 awards, and a Gotham Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Director, the film is set for theatrical release in more than 30 countries, cementing his reputation as a bold voice in contemporary cinema.

His debut feature, A WORLD NOT OURS, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and won over 30 awards, including the Berlinale Peace Prize and the Grand Jury Prizes at Edinburgh and DOC:NYC.

In 2016, Fleifel won the Silver Bear at Berlinale for A MAN RETURNED, which was also nominated for the European Film Awards. His Cannes-selected A DROWNING MAN later earned a BAFTA nomination, while I SIGNED THE PETITION won Best Documentary Short at IDFA. His short 3 LOGICAL EXITS premiered at IFF Rotterdam.

Came to Denmark as a refugee from Lebanon in 1988.

Graduated from the National Film and Television School in England.

Was a resident at the Cannes Cinéfondation in 2013.

Both his films A DROWNING MAN and A WORLD NOT OURS qualified for Oscar consideration.

Received the Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst Fellowship in 2015, and the Danish Arts Foundation Awards in 2014, 2018 and 2021.

Trivia

Mahdi Fleifel

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