Middle Eastern and North African cinema
In the 19th Century, the MENA region was separated between France and the United Kingdom. France and the United Kingdom had claimed protection over the countries through agreements and deals made between them (ie. Sykes-Picot Agreement). Because these countries did not have control over their economies and their political structures it was very hard to build national film industries. Due to the lack of national film industries only European products were available. Culture was also repressed, especially in the French-protected countries, which made it even harder to produce films.