Arab Cinema Week Volume 4 is drawing to a close at Dubai’s Cinema Akil. The festival is ending the 10-day celebration of regional storytelling with a lineup of films that spotlight the diversity and depth of Arab cinema today.
Running from May 2 to May 11, 2025, the event focuses on contemporary narratives from across the region, and the final weekend will show some of the festival’s most poignant and critically acclaimed features. Here are the films you won’t want to miss on May 9, 10, and 11.
The Village Next to Paradise – Friday, May 9
This Somali drama, which was in the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Cannes Film Festival, directed by Somali-Australian Mo Harawe, explores the bond between a father and son as they navigate life in a coastal village amidst instability and feelings of hope.
The delicate cinematography focuses on storytelling, while the film offers a rare, deeply human portrait of Somalia.
Sudan, Remember Us – Friday, May 9
Starring actress Shajan Suliman and directed by Paris-based filmmaker Hind Meddeb, the film is a stirring documentary that reflects on Sudan’s recent history through the lens of collective memory.
It brings untold stories to the forefront, includes archival footage, and personal narratives that challenge historical amnesia related to Sudan’s history being forgotten or overlooked in public discourse. This film also went to the TIFF.
Saify – Saturday, May 10
Set in the year 2000, Saify follows its titular character, a down-on-his-luck con artist in his forties who’s deeply in debt, even to his ex-wife, and runs a small cassette shop dealing in banned extremist sermons. The film was selected to compete in the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in 2024.
Tell Them About Us – Saturday, May 10
Directed by Rand Beiruty, this 2024 documentary follows a group of Arab, Kurdish, and Roma teenage girls as they navigate adolescence in Eberswalde, a provincial town in eastern Germany.
Over four years, the film captures their experiences with hidden discrimination and familial pressures. It uses observational footage with creative workshops where the girls express their dreams and challenges through staged performances.
Mond (Moon) – Sunday, May 11
Mond (Moon) is a 2024 Austrian thriller-drama by Kurdwin Ayub that follows Sarah, a former martial artist who takes a job in Jordan training three wealthy sisters. What seems like an exciting opportunity quickly takes a darker turn as Sarah realizes the girls live in isolation under constant watch.
Starring Florentina Holzinger, the film premiered at the 77th Locarno Film Festival, earning several honors. It was also nominated for the 2024 European University Film Award. The film delves into themes of surveillance, control, and female autonomy in a tightly confined world.
Aïcha – Sunday, May 11
The film delves into themes of self-reinvention, the quest for freedom, and the societal challenges faced by women in Tunisia. Director Mehdi Barsaoui centers the narrative on Aya, a late-20s woman who feels stuck in a life with few opportunities while living in southern Tunisia with her parents.
After surviving a fatal minivan crash, Aya seizes the chance to reinvent herself in the capital city of Tunis, under a false identity. Still, her fresh start is threatened when she witnesses a police blunder.
Arzé – Sunday, May 11
Closing the festival, Arzé (2024), directed by Mira Shaib, is a Lebanese comedy-drama marking her feature film debut. The story follows Arzé, played by Diamand Abou Abboud, a single mother in Beirut who sells pies to make ends meet.
Arzé’s actions set off a chain of events that force her and her teenage son, Kinan, to journey through Beirut’s divided neighborhoods to recover their stolen livelihood.
The film was selected as Lebanon’s official entry for Best International Feature at the 2025 Academy Awards. It premiered at the Beijing International Film Festival and debuted in North America at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.
This closing weekend is packed with essential viewing for fans of regional film. For full listings and details, visit cinemaakil.com.
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