Are you ready to be catapulted inside the Arab imagination?
The Arab Film Festival Australia launches this Thursday 30 June with a crackerjack of a movie, followed by beats and treats at our fabulous festival party. Don’t miss out on tickets – book now.
Our explosive opening night feature comes fresh from Cannes. The Cry of an Ant explores the frustrations of ordinary Egyptians that exploded onto Tahrir Square last January. Director Sameh Abdel Aziz captured the revolution live, making this the first feature film to record the events of the Arab Spring.
Thanks to Etihad Airways, Sameh joins us at the festival and at the after party at Riverside Theatre. Get your tickets now!
This year’s program is packed with incredible stories, forums and visiting filmmakers that will take you straight to the heart of the changes gripping the Arab world.
“The Arab people are resilient, frustrated, survivors and have an amazing sense of humour,” says Festival Co-Director Fadia Abboud. “The people deal with crap on a daily basis but their hope and longing for a better and more uncensored future keeps them producing films and sharing stories that reflect the beauty of our complex and diverse culture.”
Spotlight on… This is My Picture When I Was Dead
Athens, 1983 – the press reports that top PLO lieutenant Mamoun Mraish has been assassinated. Tragically, his four-year-old son, Bashir, is also killed. But what if little Bashir Mraish had survived? He would now be 29 years old, perhaps a PR executive, living with his mother. Part history, part personal memoir, this inventive film pushes the limits of documentary making and imagines a son on a quest to understand the cause that took his father’s life. Bashir must dig through his past to witness the dream of a Palestinian state turning to dust.
In this experimental, highly original and occasionally surreal film, Mahmoud al Massad combines archival footage and photos with dramatic re-creations to delve into the history of the PLO. His work redefines what a documentary can be, with fascinating results.
Tickets on sale now – don’t miss out!
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What’s the buzz on online? Saber Media says on Facebook ‘So much has happened in the Arab world since last year’s Arab Film Festival. Do not miss out this year’s Arab Film Festival Australia’.
Show us your love on Twitter @arabfilmfestau and Facebook now!
