And honestly, from the DFI, I would expect nothing less!
Read MoreA still from ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’ by Tarzan and Arab Nasser, courtesy of DFI
Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix produced 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' to open inaugural Doha Film Festival
Tunisian Oscar nominated filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s Venice Silver Lion winner is “a moving tribute to resilience and the power of cinema”.
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George Clooney in ‘Jay Kelly’ by Noah Baumbach, photo courtesy of Netflix
The Venice Diaries: A Saudi wonder film, Variety's 2025 Achievement in International Film Award does it right plus films, stars & more stars
Among the highlights of the first few days of the Venice International Film Festival, a first appearance on the Lido by Julia Roberts and some well-deserved recognition for Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, the wondrous CEO of the Doha Film Institute.
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Director Paolo Sorrentino meets his fans on the red carpet of La Biennale di Venezia, photo by © Jacopo Salvi, ASAC
The Venice Diaries: Paolo Sorrentino kicks off 82nd Venice Film Festival with a film about love
Love in all its forms, from messy to romantic, is at the core of Sorrentino’s profound film ‘La Grazia’, his most awardable since ‘La Grande Bellezza’, and at the Opening Ceremony of this year’s La Biennale, it proved an emotional affair.
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Opening reception for the 2024 edition of AIFF, photo used with permission
"A World Unscripted": Amman International Film Festival kicks off this week with outstanding program
The Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) is in its sixth edition and scheduled to take place in the Jordanian capital from July 2-10, 2025.
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Clara Khoury and Yasmine Al Massri in Laila Abbas’ ‘Thank You for Banking with Us!’
SAFAR Film Festival to bring extraordinary works of Arab cinema to London, and beyond
Running from the 11th to the 28th of June, organized by the Arab British Centre and supported by the BFI, the upcoming 10th edition of the festival will feature dozens of screenings in 10 cities across the UK and online through streaming courtesy of Beirut-based site Aflamuna.
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Jafar Panahi, after his Palme d’Or win for It Was Just an Accident
Jafar Panahi & 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' take Cannes top prizes -- in Competition and Un Certain Regard
At a festival where everyone was told to avoid political statements, the juries made their views loud and clear by choosing films to award with their activists caps on.
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Ajyal young jurors sit during a screening of a film in their section
The Doha Ajyal Diaries: Women filmmakers sweep awards at this year's DFI Ajyal Film Festival
And, while watching films during this wondrous festival, I witnessed a second miracle in the making.
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Fatma Hassan Alremaihi and Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater surrounded by some of the Ajyal jurors
The Doha Ajyal Diaries: Opening night with a twist and the joy of unorthodox film choices
A documentary about the students’ movement in Sudan opened this year’s DFI Ajyal film festival. And the unusual, yet super welcomed refreshing choices didn’t stop there.
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A still from ‘Sudan, Remember Us’ by Hind Meddeb, courtesy of the DFI
Ajyal 2024: Festival will kick off with 'Sudan, Remember Us' and will present a focus on Voices from Palestine
With the theme of the 2024 edition of Ajyal Film Festival presented by the Doha Film Institute announced as ‘Moments That Matter’, the event will also see the participation of Palestinian stars Hiam Abbas, Saleh and Mohammad Bakri, along with beloved Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabawy, Turkish TV star Esra Bilgic and Sudanese musician Mustafa the Poet.
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The 5th Amman International Film Festival kicks off with style and a somber tone
Respectful of the ongoing Gaza tragedy and in tune with the mood of the Region in general, the Jordanian film festival still managed to celebrate its theme for this edition — “Our Stories, Our Narratives”.
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Goodies at the tables welcoming guests attending the important gala included a keffiyeh print glasses holder and a mini candle for Gaza.
Galilee Foundation's Gaza in Our Hearts gala makes a difference
When the London-based foundation’s co-founder said, during her speech, that there was an “edu-cide” happening in Gaza, suddenly everything that has been going on in the past six months in Palestine came into clear focus and explained for this writer Israel’s inexplicable actions.
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Mati Diop © Dirk Michael Deckbar, courtesy of the Berlinale 2024
A Berlinale Wrap Up: Dying, Doubt and a well deserved Diop win
There were a lot of themes at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival and some resonated deeply with me, as the world tries to wade through the perils of certainty — those who think they always know better.
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