Mohamed Diab

El Gezeira, released in 2007, is inspired by the true story of the rise of a ruthless drug lord who lived on an island in Upper Egypt. The film set box office records and is often referenced in Egyptian pop culture. The sequel El Gezeira 2, released in 2014, begins with the escape of the drug lord from prison during the Egyptian revolution and his rebound to power back home on the island. The film set new Egyptian box office records becoming the highest grossing Egyptian and Arabic film of all times.

Cairo 678 marks Diab's directorial debut. The film follows the intertwining stories of a vigiliante trio of women who take on the sexual harassment epidemic in Cairo. The film was released in December 2010 and is considered the most award-winning contemporary Egyptian film. The film was distributed internationally and fared well notably in France, where it sold 265,000 tickets and received ÉcranTotal's "coup de foudre du public" audience recognition.[5]

After being heavily involved in the 2011 Egyptian revolution, Diab wanted to make a film about the revolution. It took 4 years to develop Eshtebak (Clash), which initially was a film about the rise of the revolution, but ended up being a film that captures the fall of the revolution. The film is set in the violent aftermath of the ousting of president Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood party. Violent clashes had erupted all over Egypt between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and military supporters.

The entire film is shot from within the confines of a police riot truck. Thematically, the film explores the human condition and the roots of terrorism.

The film is a recipient of grants and funding from the San Francisco Film Society, CNC l'aide au Cinémas du Monde and ARTE France.

Eshtebak (Clash) is an official selection for the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard category.[6]

In 2011, Christiane Amanpour presented Mohamed Diab with a Webby Award.[7]