After a fabulous season of revolution, romance and reality, the Arab Film Festival bids farewell to Sydney to tour the nation. Throughout July we’ll be heading to Melbourne (8–10 July), Canberra (14-21 July), Adelaide (23–24 July) and Brisbane (30–31 July) to bring Australia the very best of the fest.

Tickets are on sale now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heading for Melbourne

Next it’s Melbourne turn to see the film that captured the Egyptian revolution live. The Cry of an Ant + The Rodba screens at 8pm on Friday 8 July at Cinema Nova in Carlton.

On Saturday night Stray Bullet, Nadine Labaki’s first feature since her riveting performance in Caramel, follows a 30-something woman on the verge of committing to a loveless marriage in 1976. The film expertly weaves this struggle of the heart into the close, tense atmosphere of wartime Beirut.

 

 

On Sunday catch the boundary-pushing documentary This is My Picture when I was Dead, plus Into the Belly of the Whale, set in the warren of tunnels below the border of Israel, Gaza and Egypt and Gaza Shield, following a team of activist designers who use a video game to spread their message.

Grab your tickets now!

The national tour

From Melbourne we head to Canberra at the Arc Cinema at the National Film and Sound Archive from Thursday 14 July to Thursday 21 July.

Next stop is the Palace Nova Eastend Cinema in Adelaide on Saturday 23 July and Sunday 24 July.

We round out our tour at the Dendy Cinemas Portside in Brisbane on Saturday 30 July and Sunday 31 July.

Check the full program and tour dates online

Sydney success

Thanks to everyone who made our Parramatta festival a roaring success – especially our guests filmmakers who joined us from UAE thanks to Etihad Airways – Nawaf Al-Janahi and Khalid Al Mahmood, and the beautiful Tania Khalaf who joined us from the US. Also our wonderful festival committee and team of fantastic volunteers and the incredible filmmakers who put their visions on the screen.

And most importantly the lively audiences who packed the Riverside Theatre and shared their opinions at our forum and Q&A sessions. We couldn’t do it without you!

Hit us up

What’s the buzz on twitter?

@_Zahraa: ‘To the organisers of the @arabfilmfestau AMAZING work!! round of applause’

@andalusiya: ‘saw @TetaAlfMarra at @arabfilmfestau brilliant & a hit with all, I loved Um Mohammad so much, reminded us of all our tetas! @MahmoudKaabour’

@gemtgee: ‘How gorgeous is little Majid? 5 stars in my opinion! @arabfilmfestau #aff2011’

@NawafAljanahi: ‘A beautiful screening & an amazing audience today for the #Emirati #films at the @arabfilmfestau in #Sydney (#Australia).’

Have your say – join us on Twitter @arabfilmfestau and Facebook now.

Visit our website for the full festival program and national tour dates.