Mariam has been directed by  Basel al-Khatib Damascus - Arabstoday Syrian film Mariam has won the prize for the Arab Film Contest at the fourth International Film Festival in al-Dakhla city, Morocco. Seven films from Morocco, Algeria, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia competed in the contest. The Syrian film, which is directed by well-known movie director Basel al-Khatib, tells the story of three women, each named Mariam, who face various aspects of war living at different times.