Arab Women in the Arts
Arab Women in the Arts is AFMI’s annual showcase that honors generations of Arab women who have excelled in, and revolutionized, all forms of artistic expression.
The 2026 edition – now concluded – was curated by Nanor Vosgueritchian. It celebrated the Lebanese-French filmmaker Danielle Arbid, a multimedia artist and director whose work explores the themes of war, memory, isolation, sexuality, and transience, primarily through the perspective of women. The showcase presented selected films from Arbid’s career.
You can learn more about Danielle Arbid’s work from this excellent interview with the filmmaker herself.
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Arab Women in the Arts 2026 Partners
Past Editions
For its fifth edition, Arab Women in the Arts celebrated the works of pioneering Tunisian filmmaker Moufida Tlatli. As with every year, the aim of this event was to highlight the innovative and creative works of Arab women artists. Tlatli is a prime example of just that, as her works have received international acclaim and are considered to be groundbreaking within the landscape of Tunisian cinema.
Arab Women in the Arts 2024 highlighted identity and our connections to our home or homeland through themes such as food, sustenance, soil and the concept of self reliance. It showcased the innovative and creative work of both established and up-and-coming artists in film, poetry and the visual arts from across the Arab world, the larger SWANA region and the diaspora. And it it spotlighted the incredible work of Syrian filmmaker Soudade Kaadan.
Arab Women in the Arts 2023 celebrated the accomplishments of established artists alongside the innovative and creative work up-and-coming artists in film, poetry and the visual arts from across the Arab world & the diaspora. Alongside parties and mixers, the program supported teaching, inspiriration and connection within the Arab community and the larger art community in cities across America. Arab Women in the Arts 2023 highlighted the work of Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir.
The 2022 Arab Women in the Arts edition included short and feature films, poetry readings, musical performances alongside a virtual gallery featuring paintings, photographs, fiber art and illustrations. The program also included talkbacks and discussions with the artists about their work and their personal stories of empowerment, and highlighted the work of the late Lebanese filmmaker Randal Chahal Sabbag.
The 2021 Arab Women in the Arts edition (our inaugural program) was titled 6 Days | 6 Nights – Revolutionary Arab Women in the Arts Past Present Future.
It included The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived (1974) by Heiny Srour and a conversation with the legendary filmmaker, a Poetry Reading, and more film screenings.
