Arab Film Series Online — Arab World Shorts Program

Arab World Shorts Program
11 am Pacific Saturday, May 2, 2020
FREE
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We are teaming up again with The Arab American National Museum, ArteEast and Cinetopia Film Festival to livestream online Arab shorts that tackle serious issues through elements of comedy and animation. Whether taking us on an out-of-body experience, exploring a lifestyle change or dealing with unexpected visitors, these beautiful short films give us a glimpse into the complex problems and interesting situations we can find ourselves in.

Total runtime: 49 minutes. Directors Basil Khalil (“Ave Maria”) and Khalid Salim (“Veganize It!”) will appear via Skype for a post-film talkback. All films in Arabic with English subtitles.

“Aziza” (2019) dir. Soudade Kaadan (featured at AFF2019)
Lebanon, Syria / 13 minutes / PG-13
Comedy, Drama

Ayman, a Syrian refugee in Lebanon, is teaching his wife how to drive his car, the only thing left for him from his country. The lesson takes a wrong turn into madness and nostalgia.
__________

“Waves ’98” (2015) dir. Ely Dagher (featured at AFF2016)
Lebanon, Qatar / 15 minutes / PG-13
Animation

Disillusioned with his life in the suburbs of segregated Beirut, Omar’s discovery lures him into the depths of the city. Immersed into a world that is so close yet so isolated from his reality, he eventually finds himself struggling to keep his attachments and sense of home.
__________

“Ave Maria” (2015) dir. Basil Khalil (featured at AFF2015)
Palestine / 14 minutes / PG-13
Comedy

The silent routine of five Palestinian nuns in the West Bank wilderness is disrupted when a family of Israeli settlers comes to their door for help after crashing into the convent wall. They can’t make a phone call for assistance due to Sabbath laws, and the nuns have taken a vow of silence. Together they must come up with an unorthodox plan to help the family get home.
__________

“Veganize It!” (2015) dir. Khalid Salim
Sudan / 7 minutes / PG
Comedy

Bakr has made a life-changing decision that will soon turn his world upside down. Little does he know that his newly founded decision is going to shake the very core of his relationships with his family, friends and fiancé forever.