Nestled in the heart of Dubai’s Alserkal Avenue, Cinema Akil is a hub for cinephiles, storytellers, and anyone craving thought-provoking narratives that don’t make it to mainstream screens. As the UAE’s only independent cinema, it’s built a reputation for curating experiences that linger long after the credits roll. And now, it’s back with the much-anticipated third edition of Arab Cinema Week, running from November 22 to December 1, 2024.
Arab Cinema Week Volume 3 is a celebration of voices from 11 Arab nations, with a lineup that promises to challenge perspectives and inspire conversations. From fiction and non-fiction features to short films and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, the festival paints a cinematic mosaic of the region’s diversity.
Women are front and center this year, with nearly half of the films directed by female filmmakers, a deliberate nod to the power of storytelling through a female lens.
The festival’s visual identity, crafted by artist Nada Sultan, adopts a black-and-white palette. The minimalist design,inspired by Arabic cartography, astrolabes, and inscriptions, sends a powerful message: “The world is broken. But you will never break us.” It’s a testament to the resilience that defines the Arab spirit.
The festival kicks off with a deep dive into the layered psyche of Beirut with Zakaria Jaber‘s Anxious in Beirut. This gripping drama uses personal and public narratives to untangle the city’s essence, exploring the anxiety that permeates its spaces and generations. If you’ve ever wondered how a place can simultaneously be achingly beautiful and deeplyrestless, this film promises to deliver answers or at least provoke questions.
After the screening, audiences will get a rare treat: a virtual Q&A with Jaber himself, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his creative process. But the magic doesn’t stop there. Arab Cinema Week offers a packed schedule of films that dive into everything from family struggles in Yemen (The Burdened) to the resilience of Lebanon and Sudan (Diaries from Lebanon and Madaniya). Highlights include Baghdad Messi, a tale of football and hope amidst conflict, and The Brink of Dreams, a theater troupe’s coming-of-age story. Each screening feels like a passport to a different world, all bound by a shared cultural thread.
For full schedules and updates, head to www.cinemaakil.com.
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