Latest news with #AFLAMUNA
Broadcast Pro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Palestinian film ‘Alam' to screen at AFLAMUNA in Beirut
Written and directed by Firas Khoury, 'Alam' follows the story of a Palestinian teenager named Tamer. Palestinian filmmaker Firas Khoury's feature film Alam will be screening at the AFLAMUNA, a cultural nonprofit based in Beirut working to harness the power of independent Arab cinema to elevate the most pressing social, political and cultural movements of our time, on July 18 at 8:30 PM. The film follows the story of a Palestinian teenager named Tamer, who leads a typical teenage life until the arrival of the beautiful Maysaa changes everything. As he grows closer to her, Tamer agrees to participate in a mysterious and life-changing operation called 'Alam.' Written and directed by Firas Khoury, Alam stars Mahmood Bakri, Sereen Khass, Saleh Bakri, Mohammad Karaki, Ahmad Zaghmouri and Muhammad Abed Elrahman. The film is produced by Marie Pierre Macia, Claire Gadéa, Naomie Lagadec, Melik Kochbati and Ossama Bawardi, with cinematography by Frida Marzouk, editing by Nadia Ben Rachid and music by Faraj Suleiman. In terms of bigger companies at play, Alam was produced by MPM Film, Paprika Films, and Philistine Films, and co-produced by Lacydon Bay Productions, Metafora Production, and the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation, with Arab world distribution by MAD Solutions and Lagoonie Film Production. The feature film received a grant from the Doha Film Institute and a $20,000 script development grant from the Abu Dhabi Film Festival's Sanad Fund. It was also chosen to participate in the Cinéfondation Workshop at the 2017 edition of the Cannes Film Festival and the 2019 Venice GAP-Financing Market; received a $10,000 grant from Cairo Film Connection, the CIFF's Co-Production Market, and was featured at the Atlas Workshops of the Marrakech International Film Festival.
Broadcast Pro
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
SAFAR Film Festival returns for 10th edition
The festival continues through June 28, wrapping up with the UK premiere of 'Sudan, Remember Us' (2024), directed by Hind Meddeb. The SAFAR Film Festival has returned to the UK for its 10th edition, opening with the newly restored version of Hassan Al-Imam's 1972 Egyptian classic Watch Out for Zouzou, marking its UK premiere at Ciné Lumière in London. The festival, which runs until June 28, continues its mission of bridging cinematic heritage and contemporary Arab storytelling, celebrating both nostalgia and innovation through its selection of films from South West Asia and North Africa. This year's programme reflects a strong interplay between the past and present, aiming to offer audiences a sense of continuity in Arab cinema. In addition to reviving iconic works such as Watch Out for Zouzou, the festival hosts a residency with Egyptian artist Bahia Shehab, who will collaborate with emerging creatives to produce video essays exploring the legacy and evolution of Arab stardom. The closing night will feature the UK premiere of Sudan, Remember Us (2024), directed by Hind Meddeb—a poignant documentary chronicling the lives impacted by the Sudanese conflict. The theme of generational memory and political reckoning resonates throughout the festival, as films span decades, regions, and emotional terrain. One such film, Agora, explores the mystery surrounding three people who return from the dead in a quiet Tunisian town, while Across the Sea traces Nour's life from 1990s Morocco to France, navigating the trials of love and belonging. Urgent present-day realities are depicted in A State of Passion, which follows British Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah working in Gaza's overwhelmed emergency hospitals amid relentless bombings. Palestinian stories hold a central place in this edition, with a dedicated strand including a masterclass by celebrated actor and filmmaker Mohammad Bakri, screenings of archival footage from early 20th-century Palestine accompanied by live music, and a broad spectrum of documentaries, essays, and fiction centered on Palestinian experiences and resistance. The programme also reflects on the traumas of Syria's ongoing crisis with My Memory is Full of Ghosts and commemorates 50 years since the start of Lebanon's civil war with a special online programme curated by Lebanese cultural platform AFLAMUNA. As part of this remembrance, the festival will present a restored screening of the elusive modern classic Phantom Beirut. This year's SAFAR also turns to the land itself as a narrative space, with films and discussions tackling colonial histories (After the Sun) and celebrating environmental storytelling. A selection of short films on biodiversity, curated in partnership with the REEF Film Festival, forms part of a growing eco-conscious strand, led by SAFAR Futures alumni and new assistant curators Amina Ali and Sally Zarzour. In a deeply personal contribution, SAFAR co-founder Saeed Taji Farouky reflects on the recurring motif of ghosts that threads through the festival—from the Egyptian horror classic Fangs to displaced memories and lost homes—and will host a communal tea ritual as a gesture of collective healing and solidarity. Beyond its festival window, SAFAR continues to support Arab cinema's theatrical presence across the UK, offering audiences a chance to revisit or preview key works. This includes access to previously screened titles like Layla, set in a vibrant queer context, as well as early looks at upcoming UK releases such as the introspective Red Path and the festival's closing documentary Sudan, Remember Us. The festival also features a compelling mix of stories highlighting diverse Arab lives and voices: The Tale of Daye's Family follows a young Nubian albino aspiring to sing despite social resistance; The Village Next to Paradise portrays the resilience of Araweelo in Somalia; Thank You for Banking With Us unites two estranged Palestinian sisters pursuing their inheritance; Seeking Haven for Mr Rambo takes viewers through Cairo as Hassan searches for safety for his dog; and Saify offers a darkly comic reflection on capitalism and religion in 1990s Saudi Arabia. Marking a decade of cultural dialogue through film, this edition of SAFAR offers a bold and emotionally resonant panorama of Arab cinema, engaging with memory, identity, resistance, and imagination across generations and borders.
Arab News
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
What to expect at the 10th edition of the UK's SAFAR Film Festival
DUBAI: The 10th edition of the SAFAR Film Festival launches on Wednesday with a newly restored screening of the 1972 Egyptian classic 'Watch Out for Zouzou' by Hassan Al-Imam at Ciné Lumière in London. The festival will run until June 28, concluding with the UK premiere of 'Sudan, Remember Us' (2024) by Hind Meddeb. This edition of SAFAR will take place across cinemas in London and nine other UK cities, showcasing a broad range of feature films, documentaries and shorts from the South West Asia and North Africa region. A post shared by SAFAR FILM FESTIVAL (@safarfilmfestival) A complementary online programme, curated by the Lebanese nonprofit cultural organization AFLAMUNA, will run throughout the month, exploring works that respond to the Lebanese civil war — 50 years after it began. Audiences can expect films that explore themes of migration, political empowerment, conflict, creativity and joy. Among this year's highlights is 'A State of Passion,' documenting the work of British Palestinian reconstructive surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah in Gaza. Directed by Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi, the film delves into the emotional toll of his work. A post shared by :: أفلامُنا.اونلاين (@ Veteran Palestinian actor, director and documentarian Mohammad Bakri will be a special guest, delivering a masterclass and appearing for screenings of 'Upshot' (2024) by Maha Haj and his landmark 2002 documentary 'Jenin, Jenin,' which was banned by the Israeli Film Board. The film features testimonies from survivors of the 2002 Israeli military assault on the Jenin refugee camp. Among other notable titles is 'Seeking Haven for Mr Rambo' (2024) by Khaled Mansour, an emotive thriller that follows Hassan on a mission to protect his best friend and dog. The film previously won the Grand Prize at the Red Sea International Film Festival. 'Red Path' (2024) by Lotfi Achour, based on a true story, recounts the harrowing experience of 13-year-old Achraf, who is forced to carry the severed head of his cousin back to their village after a terrorist attack. A post shared by :: أفلامُنا.اونلاين (@ In 'Saify' (2024) by Wael Abu Mansour, a middle-aged trickster sells tapes of banned Islamic sermons in hopes of quick profit, offering a sharp social commentary on the pursuit of wealth. Directors of all three films will be present at SAFAR for post-screening discussions. Also part of this year's programme is Laila Abbas's dark comedy 'Thank You for Banking With Us!' (2024), where two estranged sisters reunite to claim their inheritance before the authorities discover their father's death and transfer it to their brother. A post shared by SAFAR FILM FESTIVAL (@safarfilmfestival) SAFAR will also present 'Palestine – A Revised Narrative,' a 30-minute silent film compiled from 35mm archival footage shot by British forces in Palestine between 1914 and 1918. Commissioned by ALFILM, this screening will feature a live score by composer Cynthia Zaven and sound design by Rana Eid, re-examining the British imperial narrative at a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern history. The festival includes environmental programming through 'Biodiversity and Cinema,' an initiative launched in 2023 that brings together Lebanese filmmakers and ecologists to create short documentaries on ecosystems and microorganisms. A selection of these films will screen under the title 'Rooted Resistance,' with filmmakers in attendance. 'The Brink of Dreams' (2024) by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El-Amir also features in this year's line-up. Shot over four years in southern Egypt, the film follows a group of girls who form a street theatre troupe to challenge the expectations of their conservative village.
