GQ Middle East

Mar 2026

In a sophisticated editorial feature for GQ Middle East, filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania is brought into sharp focus through a monochromatic lens that emphasizes her creative gravity and cinematic vision. Photographer Tawfick captures the essence of the director across a series of striking portraits that oscillate between candid documentary sensibilities and formal editorial composition. The imagery leans into a timeless aesthetic, utilizing 35mm film and analogue techniques to ground the subject in the tactile history of the medium. Through a combination of high-key lighting and clean studio environments, the project strips away artifice to emphasize the deliberate, sharp lines of her structured attire, carefully curated by fashion editor Sam Knoll. The visual narrative channels a sense of intentionality, particularly in the sequences where Ben Hania interacts with cinematic equipment like vintage megaphones and film slides, bridging the gap between the person and the craft. With subtle makeup artistry by Aya Tariq providing a refined, natural finish, the project avoids the noise of modern digital gloss, favoring a classic black and white palette that feels both permanent and immediate. These portraits succeed not merely as a profile, but as a deliberate study of a storyteller whose work demands a focus as unflinching and thoughtful as the photography itself, cementing her status as a singular voice in contemporary cinema.

Editorial, Vertical

Natural light