We are thrilled to share that a record number of Arab films have been shortlisted for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. They are:

  • All That’s Left of You (Jordan) – Winner of AFF2025 Best Narrative Feature Award
  • Palestine 36 (Palestine) – AFF2025 Opening Night Film and Winner of AFF2025 Audience Award
  • The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia) – sold out screening at AFF2025
  • The President’s Cake (Iraq)

This is the first time so many Arab films have been either nominated or shortlisted for a Best International Feature Film Oscar in the same year.

All That's Left of You - written and directed by Cherien Dabis Winner - Best Narrative Feature Award at the 29th Arab Film Festival

Palestine 36 by Annemarie Jacir - Winner of the Audience Award at the 29th Arab Film Festival

The first Arab Film Festival took place in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1996. And over the years we have made it our mission to showcase little known gems alongside the biggest Arab movies of the year.  29 years later, we are more committed than ever to sharing the best of Arab cinema with the widest possible audience, but our reach has increased, and our programming now includes Arab films officially submitted to the Oscars.

This year, AFF2025 attendees had the opportunity to see Cherien Dabis’s All That’s Left of You (Jordan), Annemarie Jacir’s Palestine 36 and Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.

We will be eagerly awaiting their nominations and may one win the Oscar for Best International Feature Film!

 

Coexistence, My Ass! has been shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film

We also want to celebrate AFF alumna Amber Fares, whose film Coexistence, My Ass! has been shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film.

We co-presented Coexistence, My Ass! at this year’s San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.