Best Directors Working Today (Africa and Middle East List)

Picked from directors who are Africa, Middle Eastern or film in these countries a lot. In the languages of the country that they're filming in (which means English, French and Portuguese counts). Or African and Middle Eastern languages. To qualify I'm making it that the director has to release an excellent film (in my opinion) during the 21st century and I need to be able to find at least 3 excellent reference films. Same criteria as the previous list.

I'm counting Israel as part of Europe, so there won't be any Israeli directors on this list. My geography is sketchy so I'm using the basis of where the national team plays their football (Israel plays in UEFA). I know the Middle East counts as AFC for football, but the list looks better like this.

16.Idrissa Ouedraogo-Burkina Faso

Directing Timespan : 1981- present

Reference Films: Yaaba (1989), Tilai(1990), Anger of the Gods (2003)

15.Mai Masri-Palestine

Directing Timespan : 1987- present

Reference Films: Beirut Diaries: Truth,Lies and Videos (2006); Frontiers of Dreams and Fears (2001); Children of Shatila (1998)

14.Elia Suleiman -Palestine

Directing Timespan : 1991- present

Reference Films: Chronicle of a Disappearance(1996); Divine Intervention (20020; The time That Remains (2009);

13.Abbas Fahdel - Iraq

Directing Timespan : 2001- present

Reference Films: Back to Babylon (2002); We Iraqis (2004); Dawn of the World (2008)

12.Mahamat Saleh Haroun-Chad

Directing Timespan : 1995- present

Reference Films: Abouna (2002); Daratt (2006); A Screaming Man (2010)

11.Haile Gerima-Ethopia

Directing Timespan : 1972- present

Reference Films: Teza (2009); Sankofa (1993);Adwa (1999)

10.Mohamed Khan-Egypt

Directing Timespan : 1963- present

Reference Films: Fi shaket Masr El Gedeeda (2007); Ayyam El Saddat (2001); Zawgat Ragol Mohim (1987);

9. Abderrahmane Sissako-Mali/ Mauritiana

Directing Timespan : 1989- present

Reference Films: La Vie sur Terre (1999); Heremakono (2002);  Bamako (2006)

8. Mahamat Saleh Haroun-Chad

Directing Timespan : 1995- present

Reference Films: Abouna (2002); Daratt (2006); A Screaming Man (2010)

7. Dani Kouyate-Burkina Faaso

Directing Timespan : 1989- present

Reference Films: Sia, le reve du python (2001), Ouaga-saga (2004); Joseph ke-Zerbo (2005)

6. Asghar Farhadi -Iran

Directing Timespan : 2003- Present

Reference Films: Dancing in the Dust (2003), Fireworks Wednesday (2006), A Separation (2011)

5. Mohsen Makhmalbaf -Iran

Directing Timespan : 1981- present

Reference Films: The Cyclist (1987); Salaam Cinema (1994); A Moment of Innocence (1996); Kandahar (2001);

4. Hany Abu-Assad -Palestine

Directing Timespan : 1991- present

Reference Films: Rana's Wedding (2002); Ford Transit (2003); Paradise Now (2005)

3.Samira Makhmalbaf -Iran

Directing Timespan : 1998- present

Reference Films: The Apple (1998); ; Blackboards (2000);At Five in The Afternoon (2003)

2.Jafar Panahi -Iran

Directing Timespan : 1988- present

Reference Films: The White Balloon (1995); The Circle (2000); Crimson Gold (2003); Offside (2006)

1. Abbas Kiarostami -Iran

Directing Timespan : 1962- present

Reference Films: Where is the Friend's Home (1987); The Wind Will Carry Us (1997); 10 on Ten (2004); Certified Copy (2010)