Interview with Maryam Naʿūm

Abstract

This interview with Egyptian screenwriter Maryam Naʿūm offers insight into her creative approach to scripting crime within Arab television drama. Known for her socially engaged narratives, Naʿūm discusses the narrative role of crime, evolving audience expectations, and the cultural and institutional constraints shaping representations of justice across the Arab region. She reflects on regional variations in crime storytelling, the rise of platform-driven content, and the challenges of adapting international formats. Drawing on her own body of work and her mentorship of emerging writers, Naʿūm articulates a vision of crime drama that prioritizes emotional depth and character complexity over formulaic resolution.

Maryam Naʿūm is an acclaimed Egyptian screenwriter known for her socially conscious storytelling and compelling female characters. A graduate of the Cairo Higher Institute of Cinema, she gained recognition with Wāḥid-ṣifr (2009) and solidified her reputation through collaborations with director Kāmla Abū Ḏikrī on works like Bin ismahā Ḏāt (2013) and Siǧn al-nisā (2014). Naʿūm’s scripts often tackle issues like gender inequality, class struggles, and personal freedom. Her nuanced writing and focus on marginalised voices have made her a key figure in contemporary Arab cinema, contributing to a new wave of realist and feminist storytelling in the region. Naʿūm is also the founder of Sard, a screenwriting workshop that mentors emerging talents.