Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim-Opening

The Arab Film Festival will be opened with the film ‘Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim’ this year. Ingredients: two lingering souls and a goat.

Mawlana

His responses on TV reveal a witty and eloquent person against a backdrop of darkness, where power struggles rage.

Stitching Palestine & Museum of Memories

The stories of twelve Palestinian women weave into a collective picture of their homeland.

Mahbas

During an overnight visit of her daughter’s suitor she so longs for she discovers that he is not the perfect son-in-law.

A Memory in Khaki

A Syrian account, which, by laying out the past, tells the story of the future

76 min and 15 sec & Take me Home

Beautifull playfull alleys and stairs in South Italy

Shahira

An unlikely adventurous friendship between two children

Burning Hope

An unlikely friendship and the portrait of a fragile country haunted by so many ghosts.

Al Asleyeen

Money problems and a suspicious phone will change his life forever.

Until the Birds Return

Three stories plunge us into the human soul of a contemporary Arab society

Path of Maryam

A spiritual journey of father and daughter

Eccomi..Eccoti

Two men. Two realities.

Wachma

The story of a rebellious young man

In Between

In Between follows three different women in the city of Tel Aviv

Brooks, Meadows and Lovely Faces

Man loves woman, who needs to marry another man who loves another woman. Will it work out for all of them?

Little Eagles

Mohamed leaves his father to become a filmmaker in Cairo, but in Cairo he finds more of his father, when he discovers parts of his history.

Insyriated

Energetic Oum Yazan is trying desperately to keep together her family life whilst outside a war is raging.

Skype conversation with Palestine

No matter a person’s religion, race, or class we have all shared the experience of creating community around food.

My Paradise

Based on the story of a few former classmates pictured in a photo taken 25 years ago, the emergence of the Syrian Revolution is recounted.

Jeanne d’Arc Masriya

We follow in the footsteps of Cairene filmmaker Iman Kamel as she journeys to the Western Desert where she discovers a diary written by a Bedouin girl named Jehanne.

A day for Women

In one of Egypt’s shabby neighborhoods, a youth center decides to allocate the swimming pool for women only for one day.

Awardshow & Return to Haifa

Based on the novel by Ghassan Kanafani

Fires

The human story behind the Syrian conflict

Rue de la Victoire

In his native Tunisia, and later in France with the Cirque Farouche, Mohamed struggles to achieve his dreams and be recognized for who he is.

Domino Master-schoolvoorstelling met Q&A

Children's program for group 7 & 8

Pantropical concert & dance party

Vibrant concert and dance party after a long day of Arab film watching..

Featured film

11 – 15 October 2017

Cinerama Rotterdam

From North Africa through West Asia to the Gulf States

The Arab Film Festival is committed to showing not only the politics, daily life and views, but also the beauty, artistry and humor of the Arab world. The Arab Film Festival presents the Arab world from within through its annual film festival in Rotterdam and various other events throughout the year.

Upcoming events

And the winner is…

The Arab Film Festival granted 4 awards during its closing ceremony: best feature film, best short film, best screenplay award and the audience award.

Selection screenwriting lab

The official selection for the screenwriting lab for shorts #2017 has been made!

Nice to meet: Shariff Nasr

Have you ever wondered who the members of the Arab Film Festival board are? Yes/no? Anyway: an interview with Shariff Nasr, one of our board members…

Respect for refugees

Respect for refugees is not self-evident. The Arab Film Festival takes youngsters out of their comfort zone and brings them in contact with refugees.