House of Gods

House of Gods is a 2024 Australian television drama series. It is created by Osamah Sami and Shahin Shafaei and produced by Matchbox Pictures. It was broadcast on ABC TV from 25 February until 31 March 2024.

Premise
In the Sydney suburb of Fairfield, Sheikh Mohammad is bidding for the head cleric position at his mosque. However, whilst his progressive positions are backed by his children they bring tension to aspects of the more conservative community.

Cast

 * Kamel El Basha as Sheikh Mohammad
 * Osamah Sami as Isa
 * Maia Abas as Batul
 * Majid Shokor as Uncle Samir
 * Safia Arain as Hind
 * Simon Elrah as Sheikh Shaaker
 * Priscilla Doueihy as Jamila
 * Ali Ibrahim as Yusuf
 * Azmi Al-Hasani as Aqil
 * Saif Alawadi as Bilal
 * Wadih Dona as Abu Hany
 * Antoinette Lattouf as Leyla

Production
The 55 minute six-part drama series was created by Osamah Sami (whose father was head cleric of a mosque in Melbourne) and Shahin Shafaei. It is co-written by Blake Ayshford and Sarah Bassiuoni. Sami first presented the idea to the Matchbox Pictures producer Sheila Jayadev 5-6 years prior to production.

House of Gods is directed by Fadia Abboud and executive producers are Debbie Lee, Sally Riley, Jayaved, Blake Ayshford, and Brett Sleigh. Bree-Anne Sykes is series producer.

The series has an entirely Arab Australian cast, which includes Kamel El Basha, Osamah Sami, Maia Abas, Majid Shokor, Safia Arain, Simon Elrah, Priscilla Doueihy, Ali Ibrahim, Azmi Al-Hasani, Saif Alawadi, Wadih Dona, and Antoinette Lattouf.

Broadcast
The series was shown in Australia on ABC TV from 25 February 2024, until 31 March 2024. All episodes of the series were added to ABC iview on 25 February 2024.

Awards
Kamel El Basha won the best actor prize at the 14th edition of Series Mania in France in March 2024.

Critical reception
Mostafa Rachwani of Guardian Australia gave the drama series a 2 star rating, writing "I think it is important to acknowledge House of Gods as an overall step forward for Muslim representation in Australia." Mel Campbell of ScreenHub gave the drama series a 3½ star rating, writing "Like the sheikh, House of Gods is working hard to find its place and move with its times. And it’s a very absorbing balancing act to watch".