Latest news with #MiraShabib
Arab News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Toronto Arab Film Festival screens searing ‘Arze'
DUBAI: The Toronto Arab Film Festival, running from June 20- 29, screened the scathing yet poignant Lebanese film 'Arze,' directed by Mira Shabib. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The ambitious 'Arze' — which means "cedar" in Arabic — follows the story of Arze, a single mother supporting her teenage son and love-struck sister through a homemade pie delivery business. In an effort to improve their lives, she steals and sells her sister's jewelry to buy a scooter for her son to use for deliveries. But when the scooter is stolen, mother and son embark on a frantic journey across Beirut to recover it. On the surface, 'Arze' tells a story that resonates deeply with many Lebanese families caught in financial limbo. It explores the emotional toll of such hardship, with questions arising as to whether one should leave the country or give up remnants of a once-comfortable life to survive Lebanon's shifting socio-economic landscape. Beneath the family drama lies sharp satire. Even the film's title that references the cedar tree, a national symbol of Lebanese identity, carries layered meaning. Like the character herself, that identity appears fragmented, constantly lost amid the country's sectarian divides. This is where the film truly shines: Arze, portrayed with emotional depth by Diamand Abou Abboud, dons various religious symbols and disguises to navigate Beirut's fractured neighborhoods. Shabib excels in exposing the farce of sectarianism, insinuating that Lebanon's religious divisions are not deeply rooted but socially constructed and performative. Arze's ability to blend into different communities simply by changing her appearance highlights how fragile and superficial these boundaries truly are. In this sense, the film excels in its portrayal of a fourth main character: Beirut itself. Through Shabib's lens, we are taken on a tour of a city so diverse it borders on overwhelming. Yet this diversity, rather than being a source of division, becomes a stage for a pointed critique, one that targets society's fixation on appearances and its preference for the performative over lived reality.
Arab News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Toronto Arab Film Festival showcases diverse selection this June
DUBAI: The Toronto Arab Film Festival returns for its sixth annual edition with a diverse lineup from June 20 to 29. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ 'This year, we are screening over 50 films — both features and shorts — which is our largest number to date … it's fulfilling to watch the development of the Canadian-Arab film industry in real time,' Rolla Tahir, a Sudanese filmmaker and co-founder of TAF, said. A post shared by Toronto Arab Film (@torontoarabfilm) This year's program reflects the growing diversity and creative evolution of Arab cinema, with some well-known filmmakers participating. 'We're seeing a notable rise in genre films, especially horror and sci-fi. For example, there's a horror film from Tunisia and a short program dedicated entirely to sci-fi and horror,' Tahir said. Participants this year include Lebanese filmmaker Mira Shabib with her film 'Arze'' and 'Back to Alexandria' by Tamer Ruggli starring Lebanese actress Nadine Labaki. TAF has also become a valuable platform for professional development, offering networking opportunities for both emerging and established talent. 'This year, we're introducing an informal industry meet-and-greet — a casual networking event with no structured pitches,' Tahir explained. A post shared by WIFT+ Toronto (@ The event is designed to create a relaxed environment where Arab filmmakers can connect with industry professionals, ask candid questions, and introduce their projects without the pressure of formal presentations. The festival's mission may seem simple — to raise awareness of Arab cinema among Canadian audiences — but achieving that impact requires a deliberate strategy. It is one that Tahir and her co-founders have refined over the years. 'Each year, we collaborate with other festivals to co-present films and expand outreach beyond Arab audiences,' she said. For Tahir, the appeal of Arab cinema to non-Arab audiences comes naturally, thanks to the enduring quality and resilience of the work itself. 'What stands out is perseverance. Regardless of what's happening in our countries or personal lives, Arab filmmakers continue telling their stories.' It is that very perseverance — expressed through everything from harrowing documentaries to satirical comedies — that gives Arab filmmakers their distinct voice. 'I want people to know we're still making films — and that we're making different, bold, and innovative ones,' Tahir said.
