Ladies and gentleman… the Arab Film Festival has officially opened!
On Thursday 1st of July – we officially launched with the action-packed City of Life drew a buzzing crowd of 700 people to Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre. We warmed up the chilly night with heated discussion, sweet Arab treats and informal exchanges with director Ali Mostafa who joined us from Dubai.
If you missed out on tickets to the opening night sold-out session, don’t fret! There’s still three days of fantastic films to catch in Sydney, including 12 Angry Lebanese, peeking into the harsh stories of Roumieh Prison; Kick Off, blending Iraqi football fever with the harsh realities of war, and the landmark Arabian Nights Animation Collection. There’s a dangerous journey by boat from Algeria to Spain with Harragas and a black-comedy take on the Arab-Israeli conflict with The Time that Remains. Or zip around the Arab world from Bahrain to Morocco to Australia with our famous Makhlouta Shorts session on Saturday afternoon. Check out the full program at arabfilmfestival.com.au.
Meanwhile Melbourne (9-11 July), Canberra (15-17 July), Adelaide (24-25 July) and Brisbane (30-31 July) are gearing for their chance to sample the highlights of the festival, including City of Life and Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story.
Spotlight on…
Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story
What happens when a successful woman is asked to forfeit her career for the sake of her husband? Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story features Middle Eastern star Mona Zakki as Egyptian TV reporter Hebba, who agrees to tone down her journalistic investigations for the sake of her husband’s government career.The film uses the classic Arabian Nights technique of a story within a story to introduce us to three women who feature on Hebba’s show. In a devastating commentary on marriage, they attempt to develop authentic relationships with men despite the confines of their society.
A hit at the Venice, Toronto and Three Continents film festivals, the film takes us unflinchingly into the most private and painful details of these women’s experiences. SBS called it ‘wrenching’, with ‘plotting [that] provides constant surprises’. The twists and turns of this dramatic film lay bare the brutal truths about women’s choices and constraints.
