20 Arab Directors On Why They Made Their Films
These Arab directors - whose work will play at AFF2021 - explain why they made their films and their personal connections to them. Filmmaking is much more than a job - it is a labor of love and persistence, and a single project can often take years to complete. Get inspired by the words of these Arab directors and check out their films. The 25th Arab Film Festival opens in San Francisco on November 18 and online on November 19,
Arab Films at Venice and TIFF 2021
Two of the year's biggest film festivals, the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the 78th Venice Film Festival (or La Biennale), recently revealed their full lineups. And if you’re here, you know we’re about to fill you in on the Arab films that have been selected! Discover all the Arab films at Venice and TIFF 2021. Arab Films at Venice The Venice Film Festival will be in person starting September 1-11. Two short films are in competition! And
Arab Films at Palm Springs ShortFest 2021
The largest short film festival in the United States, Palm Springs International ShortFest, is happening this week! The festival is being held from June 22-28 in-person, following COVID-19 safety protocols. They selected fourteen Arab short films for this year’s lineup. Film still from Al-Sit Al-Sit by Suzannah Mirghani Sudan/Qatar – Narrative Short – 20 min In Competition – Best of the Festival Award, Best Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes, Young Cineastes Award In a cotton-farming village in
Queer Arab Films to Watch During Pride Month [Updated for 2022]
It's June, which means it's LGBTQ Pride Month! This is a time to celebrate people of all sexual orientations and genders. Here at AFMI, we are of course celebrating by watching movies. People are often surprised to learn that queer Arab films and filmmakers openly exist, but they most certainly do and this misconception makes it all the more important that we acknowledge and celebrate them. To celebrate Pride, we have compiled a list of Arab films that tackle the
Arab Films at Cannes and Tribeca 2021
We’re back again, as we always are, to highlight the Arab films premiering this year. The Cannes Film Festival recently announced their lineup and the Tribeca Film Festival is coming up on June 9th so we are here to share with you the Arab films that made the cut! Arab Films at Cannes 2021 The Cannes Film Festival, back in full form after its cancellation last year, will take place in-person from July 6 to July 17. There are four
The Present: How Caged Birds Maneuver
Since its release, Farah Nabulsi’s directorial debut project, The Present, has garnered consistent attention and accolades. The short film has been nominated for an Oscar, won a BAFTA, and received numerous awards from renowned festivals like the Claremont-Ferrand and the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. Film still from The Present “Why are you here?” an Israeli settler asks Yusef, an average Palestinian man looking to cross an Israeli checkpoint near his home in the Occupied West Bank.
Revolutionary Arab Women in the Arts – Filmmaker Heiny Srour
In preparation for our upcoming women’s showcase, 6 Days/6 Nights - Revolutionary Arab Women in the Arts, we wanted to feature some of the amazing women whose work we are presenting. Our first feature is of filmmaker Heiny Srour, whose documentary The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived provided the inspiration for this showcase and will open the series on Thursday, March 25th. Heiny Srour filming Leila and the Wolves Heiny Srour was born in Beirut, Lebanon in the
6 Arab Horror Films to Watch on Halloween
Although horror films have been around in the Arab world for decades, they have never been prevalent enough to make a dent in the culture. The films that do exist are sparse, and quality is hard to find, but the Arab horror film genre has begun to grow in the past few years. Here is a list of six entertaining Arab horror films to check out during this spooky season! Madayen (2016) dir. Ayman Tamano / Saudi Arabia / 62
Filmmaking 101 – Q&A with Rami Alayan and Yasmeen Turayhi [VIDEO]
Did you miss our first filmmakers' webinar? Watch the recording! Feras Mousilli talked to filmmakers Yasmeen Turayhi and Rami Alayan about getting your film done, from pre production all the way to distribution, followed by audience Q&A. Video below. https://youtu.be/LcinktkGI0E Hollywood might still take the biggest slice of the box office pie, but more and more content is now available to movie lovers looking for more diverse and authentic voices. As the film industry is going through what could
A Brief History of Yemeni Cinema
How much do you know about the history of Yemeni Cinema? To complement Sunday's online screening of 10 Days Before the Wedding and Talkback with its director Amr Gamal, we are taking a deep dive into the history of Yemeni Cinema. When did the first movie theaters open their doors in Yemen? Do you know what film was the first Yemeni film ever nominated for an Oscar? Find the answers and more in our Brief History of Yemeni Cinema.