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.
Read MoreOpening reception for the 2024 edition of AIFF, photo used with permission
Jason Isaacs in a still from ‘Heavyweight’ by Christopher M. Anthony, photo © Tiernan Hanby, used with permission
Raindance to kick off in London with the world premiere of 'Heavyweight' featuring Jason Isaacs
The 33rd edition of the UK’s leading indie film festival will run from 18 – 27 June at host cinema Vue Piccadilly and will close with the international premiere of Camilla Guttner’s art school drama ‘The Academy’. But there are also loads of cinematic gems screening in between!
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Onur Güvenatam, Helen Hoehne, Diana Olifirova, Gareth Neame, Nigel Marchant at the SXSW London x Golden Globes, photo courtesy of the Golden Globes
Beyond Borders: Takeaways from a Golden Globes x SXSW event in London
On a chilly London afternoon, for early June anyway, a special event was held inside Shoreditch House, a Soho House property in the cool East London neighborhood where most of the SXSW events and screenings are being held.
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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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The 27th New York Sephardic Jewish Film Festival brings together film, food & culture
The American Sephardi Federation is also debuting Festival Sefarad NYC, a special monthlong celebration dedicated to the community and featuring a variety of events with something for everyone—from musical performances and book talks, to exhibitions, tours, and Shabbat dinners, with the film festival at its center.
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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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The announcement of the Film Fund at the Palestinian Pavilion in Cannes, photo © Hamza Hamida
PFI launches Film Fund to support Palestinians, plus more Palestinian news from Cannes
While the festival’s official stance may have been to avoid controversy and politics at all cost, or at the cost of the Palestinian people, there were a few cinematic organizations doing right by them on the Croisette. And the presence of a Palestinian Pavilion in the Marché du Film, with their just-announced Film Fund, brought well-deserved attention to their cause.
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The kind of beautiful women attending this year’s Festival de Cannes, as photographed at the Kering Women in Motion Awards dinner
The difference between us: Another Cannes Film Festival dispatch
Never before did I notice such a gender divide and so much incredibly superfluous mansplaining as I did this year on the Croisette.
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DFI supporting the Palestinian pavilion in Cannes this year, with Fatma Hasan Alremaihi, center, Elia Suleiman, third from left and Hanaa Issa, third from right.
Doha Film Institute proves once again the cinematic force to be reckoned with in Cannes
And with a new upcoming international film festival announced for November 2025, the Gulf cultural organization plans to prove to the world what many of us already knew.
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A still from ‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo’ by Diego Céspedes
Moments incroyables: A second Cannes Dispatch
Everything moves so fast on the Croisette, that sometimes I imagine I’ve been here for a year, others that I landed just five minutes ago. But in that time, somewhere in between, I’ve definitely watched loads of films, met interesting people and attended a few parties. So here’s a recap of… only the last 48 hrs?! Incroyable, I tell you.
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Don’t be fooled by the official images, those trains are no longer allowed on the red carpet in Cannes
Oops they did it again: a first dispatch from Cannes
Well, I’m almost there, writing this on the flight, but the trials and tribulations have already started. And the controversies too.
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The short of it: Peter Bradshaw's must-read collection of stories titled 'The Body in the Mobile Library'
Those who love the movies, know the author of this collection of 21 candid, funny and absurdist short stories for his reviews in The Guardian. But now you’ll love him even more for his witty tales.
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More goodies, like an award for Nicole Kidman added in Cannes, plus the Competition Jury is announced and 'Yes', please!
Among the new additions, Nadav Lapid’s absurdist tale, focusing on a struggling jazz musician tasked with reinventing the Israeli national anthem, taking place in the aftermath of October 7th, but also Lynne Ramsay’s latest, Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut and Lav Diaz’s ‘Magellan’ starring Gael Garcia Bernál as the Portuguese explorer.
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© Les Films 13 - ‘A Man and a Woman’ by Claude Lelouch (1966) / Graphic design © Hartland Villa
Two posters, a first film's cool Jury President and Alain Chabat at the Fortnight
If the Festival de Cannes is approaching, then it’s time for this journo to check her inbox at least a hundred times a day. News include the announcement of the Caméra d'or for first works Jury President and two posters for ‘A Man and a Woman’ as the image of the Croisette for this 2025 edition.
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Welcome to the first episode of The Culture Influential
Starting right here, right now, I’m kicking off a podcast that brings together film and fashion in a brand new way, where you'll find yourself sitting in the room with celebrities and artists, for some cozy conversations. Cultural events and world affairs decoded, from Cannes to Venice to London and across the pond, to NYC.
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Cannes' sidebars -- Critics' Week, Directors' Fortnight and ACID selections announced
Among the titles which stand out to me immediately are two beautiful projects, one selected for Critics’ Week and the other in the Fortnight line up, which participated in the recent DFI Qumra industry incubator. And I included the shorts in Critics’ Week!
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Laetitia Ky in a still from Erige Sehiri’s ‘Promised Sky’
Cannes Line-Up announcement 2025: Wondrous women filmmakers, returning favorites and a Spike Lee joint
You have to love Spike Lee for crashing Thierry Frémaux’s insiders party at the line-up press conference… via social media of course!
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Valeria Golino on the set of ‘The Art of Joy’ courtesy of Sky
'The Art of Joy' to screen at London's Ciné Lumière with special star-studded Q&A to follow
The upcoming Sky original series, co-directed by Valeria Golino and Nicolangelo Gelormini, will have its UK premiere at the Institut Français’ Ciné Lumière, ahead of its availability on Sky TV.
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Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius at Ciné Lumière in London to present his latest
‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’ is the French-born director’s foray into animation and features the narration of legendary actor Jean-Louis Trintignant in what would turn out to be his last role.
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The 7th Arab Film Festival Zurich announces program, with special tributes to Sudanese and Saudi cinema
The five day event, which takes place every two years and celebrates the best of Arab cinema, will be held from 2nd to 6th April 2025 in the Swiss city.
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