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Good news for fans of Arab film as the twelfth annual Arabian Sights Film Festival gears up to run in Washington DC from October 26th through November 4th. The festival opens with festival hit Caramel and features a very interesting lineup, including VHS Kahloucha which is what that still to the left is lifted from. More details below.
Washington, DC – The finest in Contemporary Arab Cinema will once again engage and enchant audiences as part of the Arabian Sights Film Festival to take place Friday, October 26 – Sunday, November 4, 2007.
Presented by the Washington, DC International Film Festival, Arabian Sights will offer film enthusiasts a rare opportunity to see twelve new poignant features, documentaries and nine short films from the Arab world, including Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia as well as the first feature film to come out of Oman. An Audience Award for most popular film will be presented.
The films will reflect the innovative perspectives of the Arab, Arab-American, and international film directors in the sometimes-controversial issues dealing with women, religion and politics.
The critically acclaimed Lebanese film Caramel, which was among the highlight films at the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals, will open Arabian Sights at 6:30 pm on October 26 at the Avalon Theatre.
Several directors will be in attendance to answer questions and offer further insight into their work. Arabian Sights is pleased to welcome Dr. Jack Shaheen, film expert and author of the insightful book, Reel Bad Arabs, Khalid al Zadjali, director of the Omani feature Al Boum, Nicole Ballivian, director of Driving to Zigzigland, Bashar Da’as, star of Driving to Zigzigland and Nabil Abou-Harb, director of Arab in America.
“This year’s Arabian Sights highlights new and provocative films from the Arab world, heightens interest and awareness of Arab film, and emphasizes the diversity, creativity and artistic expression which is evident in all these exceptional films,” explained Shirin Ghareeb, festival director.
Major sponsors for the Arabian Sights Film Festival include The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities; Center for the Global South, American University; The Mosaic Foundation; Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University; The Jerusalem Fund; American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center; The Georgetown Design Group, Inc; C’est Chic! New Films from France 2007; DC Internationals and Ross Kaplan.
Tickets for all screenings are $9 (with the exception of the opening film) and a Festival Pass of 10 tickets is available for $81; advance tickets are available on the website and day-of at the door. All screenings will take place at the AMC Loews Dupont Circle, located at 1350 19th St., NW. The opening film will take place at the Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave., NW. For more information visit www.filmfestdc.org or call 202-724-5613.
