
Egyptian Producer Mousa Essa Celebrates Double Win for Joy Awarded Film Welad Rizk: Al Qadia
- Nada Armanious
At the prestigious Joy Awards, a night dedicated to celebrating excellence in entertainment, producer Mousa Essa and director Tarek El Erian celebrated as their blockbuster movie, Welad Rizk: Al Qadia, the third of the Welad Rizk trilogy, claimed two major awards, marking a proud moment for Egyptian and Arab cinema. Sharing the stage with Hollywood legends like Anthony Hopkins, Christina Aguilera, Andrea Bocelli, Morgan Freeman, and Matthew McConaughey, the recognition of Welad Rizk not only honored the film’s riveting storytelling and production but also spotlighted the growing global impact of Arab cinema.
Mousa Essa, the well-established producer known for Al Khalia and the Welad Rizk series, continues to leave his mark on the industry. Widely regarded as a power couple, Essa and his wife, renowned entrepreneur Salma Fathala, attended the Joy Awards together, where he dedicated his award to her, as well as to the entire Welad Rizk team, his mother, his son, and every cast and crew member who contributed to bringing this film to life. The Egyptian action film series revolves around four brothers who turn to a life of crime after facing challenging circumstances. The story explores their tightly-knit bond as they navigate high-stakes heists, betrayals, and moral dilemmas, all while trying to evade the law and rival criminals.

Photo provided by Maison Assouline
This year, the Joy Awards held its fifth edition at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, honoring exceptional talents and works from the Middle East and beyond. Reflecting on the event, Essa shared, “The energy in the room stood out to me. It’s an incredible mix of Arabic and global stars and filmmakers. It was amazing to be surrounded by so many accomplished artists and to see Arab talents being celebrated in this way.”
Bridging the artistic connection between the East and the West has been one of Saudi Arabia’s major visions, successfully uniting talents from across the globe under its skies through numerous events. Essa added, “It was a great honor to receive this award in Saudi Arabia, a country that played a significant role in our film. We filmed many of the scenes there, and it was incredible to see how the country has become a hub for filmmaking. Saudi Arabia is rapidly developing in all areas of the arts, creating opportunities for filmmakers, actors, and artists to thrive. Being recognized in such a vibrant and supportive environment made the moment even more special.

Photo provided by Maison Assouline
Acting as a driving force behind the film and an Joy Award winner himself is Director Tarek El Erian. His collaboration with Essa was seamless with a “long and fruitful history” spanning six project. Essa emphasized how their “strong understanding and mutual trust played a significant role in shaping the success of the movie.” He also praised El Erian’s unique ability to blend intense action with powerful storytelling, which elevated the project to new heights.
The film resonated with wide audiences thanks to its suspenseful plot, skillful performances, unexpected twists, and standout production. Reflecting on one of the most memorable moments, Essa shared, “One moment that stands out from filming Welad Rizk: Al Qadia is the climactic action sequence. It was an intense, high-stakes shoot that required incredible coordination from the cast and crew. Watching it come together was exhilarating and a reminder of why we love what we do.”
For those dreaming of creating something groundbreaking, challenges are inevitable, and this project was no exception. “Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in Egyptian and Arab cinema was a challenge,” Essa explained. “From designing complex action sequences to managing a large-scale production, we faced logistical, financial, and creative hurdles. But the passion of the team and the trust we had in each other kept us going.”
Essa also revealed his excitement about two upcoming projects currently in development: Negoom El Sahel, written by Mohamed Galal and directed by Raouf El Sayed, and El Selem Wel Te’ban 2, directed by Tarek El Erian.