Guide to the 2018 Arab American Film Festival
This year's Arab Film Festival (AFF) in Southeastern Michigan focuses on marginalized communities and voices, with films focusing on gender, sexuality, identity, social justice, activism and community building.AFF aims to bring the perspective of marginalized voices to the forefront for their 13th annual film festival.Related: US, Michigan Premieres Among Arab Film Festival OfferingsThis year the AFF has joined forces with Cinetopia Film Festival, which screens films in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Detroit. The event returns to Cinetopia Film Festival May 31-June 10.
U.S. premieres include "A Certain Nasser" about Georges Nasser, a Lebanese cinema pioneer. It will be paired June 10 with the first Lebanese film screened at the Cannes Film Festival, Nasser's 1957 film, "Where to?"
The short films program expands to two programs: The first, on June 8, focuses on "Everyday Heroes from the Arab World" and second, on June 9, is "Celebrating Arab Women Filmmakers."
The Arab American National Museum presents the Arab Film Festival.
AFF Venues:
- Aliya Hassan Auditorium at the Arab American National Museum - Dearborn
- Michigan Theater - Ann Arbor
- State Theater - Ann Arbor
Tickets are available online here.
Here's a complete guide to the entire festival:
Friday-Sunday, June 1-3
[TIME TBA] @ AANM
Screenwriting Workshop
$25 Museum Members; $30 students + seniors; $50 general public
Friday, June 1
5:45 p.m. @ MICHIGAN THEATER ANN ARBOR
This is Home (feature) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Alexandra Shiva
2018/Jordan, Syria, USA/91 min./PG 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncAA4h60Cvw2
Sunday, June 3
3:45 p.m. @ MICHIGAN THEATER ANN ARBOR
Dir. Thomas Morgan
2017/Lebanon/73 min./PG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zkr43diydQ
Soufra (feature)
Wednesday, June 6
6:45 p.m. @ AANM
The Campaign (short) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Jenny Montasir
2017/Egypt/17 min.
+
Beauty and the Dogs/Aala Kaf Ifrit (feature) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
2017/Tunisia/100 min./R
Thursday, June 7
4 p.m. @ MICHIGAN THEATRE ANN ARBOR
Soufra (feature)
Dir. Thomas Morgan
2017/Lebanon/73 min./PG
6 p.m. @ AANM
Wajib (feature) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Annemarie Jacir
2017/Palestine/96 min./PG 13
9:30 p.m. @ STATE THEATER ANN ARBOR
Beauty and the Dogs/Aala Kaf Ifrit (feature) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania
2017/Tunisia/100 min./R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wL31-5hyTU
Friday, June 8
4:30 p.m. @ AANM
Mr. Gay Syria (feature) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Ayse Toprak
2017/Syria, Turkey/84 min./PG 13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MayoAfj4djQ
6:45 p.m. @ AANM
Short Film Program: Everyday Heroes
98 min./films rated PG, PG 13 and R
Language/Lugha
Dir. Mortada Gzar
2017/Iraq/12 min./PG
- Last Days of the Man of Tomorrow/ Akher Ayam Rajoul El Ghad
Dir. Fadi Baki
2017/Lebanon, Germany/29 min./R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKJAcllbTNM - Caravan
Dir. Suzanne Mirghani
2016/Qatar/6 min./PG - Sabeya
Dir. Dhyaa Joda
2017/Iraq/17 min./PG 13 - Silence/Samt
Dir. Chadi Aoun
2017/Lebanon/15 min./PG 13 - The President's Visit
Dir. Cyril Aris
2017/Lebanon/19 min./PG 13
9-11 p.m. @ AANM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3ePINp1pU8
AFF Reception
Saturday, June 9
11 a.m. @ AANM
Nile Hilton Incident (feature)
Dir. Tarik Saleh
2017/Egypt, Sweden, Denmark, Germany/107 min./R
2 p.m. @ MICHIGAN THEATER ANN ARBOR UNCONFIRMED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1njw7sUFoQ
This is Home (feature) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Alexandra Shiva
2018/Jordan, Syria, USA/91 min./PG 13
2 p.m. @ AANM
Short Film Program: Celebrating Arab Women Filmmakers
91 min.//films rated PG, PG 13 and R
Aya
Dir. Moufida Fedhila
2017/Tunisia/24 min./PG 13
Unspoken
Dir. Samia Badih
2017/UAE/11 min./PG 13
In White
Dir. Dania Bdeir
2017/Lebanon/18 min./PG
Lollipop/Halawa
Dir. Hanaa Saleh Alfassi
2017/Saudi Arabia, Morocco, UAE, USA/13 min./PG 13
Like Salt
Dir. Darine Hotait
2018/USA/25 min./PG 13
4:30-6 p.m. @ AANM
Panel discussion: New Reflections on Arab American Representation in Media
7:15 p.m. @ AANM
Soufra
Dir. Thomas Morgan (feature)
2017/Lebanon/73 min./PG
+ Iftar Dinner + talkback
Sunday, June 10
1 p.m. @ AANM
The Dead Die Once (short) WORLD PREMIERE
Dir. Max McGillivray, Alex Morelli
2018/USA/9 min.
+
This is Home (feature) MICHIGAN PREMIERE
Dir. Alexandra Shiva
2018/Jordan, Syria, USA/91 min./PG 13
+ panel discussion
3:30 p.m. @ AANM
Borders Crossed (short)
Dir. Firas Allouch
2017/Lebanon, USA/7 min./G
Where To?/Ila Ayn? (feature) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Dir. Georges Nasser
1957/Lebanon/81 min.
A Certain Nasser/Un Certain Nasser (documentary feature) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Dir. Antoine Waked, Badih Massaad