The Arab Film Festival has arranged a special showcase titled 'Arab Women Film Days' which will run on 26th and 27th May. The event is designed as an introduction to the main festival scheduled for September and will exhibit three distinctive films, including an award-winning Jordanian drama, 'Daughters of Abdul-Rahman'.
Details of the Arab Women Film Days
Organisers of the Arab Film Festival have planned the Arab Women Film Days as a prelude to the main event which will take place from 5th to 10th September 2023. This year, the festival is shining a spotlight on women in Arab cinema. Three different films will be presented at LantarenVenster in Rotterdam, followed by discussions and a publication, collectively illuminating the position of women in contemporary Arab cinema.
The films featured
Three films will be exhibited during Arab Women Film Days. 'Daughters of Abdelrahman', directed by Zaid Abu Hamdan, explores the narrative of four diverse sisters who reconnect while searching for their missing father in patriarchal Jordan. The film is based on the director's mother's life, who was unable to achieve her dreams.
Another film, 'Curfew' by the Egyptian Amir Ramses, is a touching drama focusing on a mother and daughter revealing hidden emotions and family secrets during a quarantine in Egypt.
Finally, 'The Women in Block J', by Moroccan filmmaker Mohamed Nadif, pays tribute to women from various social backgrounds who bond through the shared experience of mental illness and offer each other unique support.
The themes of the Arab Film Festival 2023
Arab Women Film Days will be carried forward into the main Arab Film Festival in September, where two additional themes will be explored. One theme will offer a diverse film programme on Iraq, providing an updated perspective of the country 20 years post-invasion. The second theme honours the centenary of Sayed Darwish (1892-1923), a pivotal figure in modern Arabic music. Special compositions inspired by Darwish's work will be performed by the Doelen Ensemble during the opening.
About the Arab Film Festival
The Arab Film Festival is scheduled to take place from 5th to 10th September 2023 in Rotterdam, hosted in three locations: LantarenVenster, Pathé Schouwburgplein, and Verhalenhuis Belvédère. The festival, in collaboration with partners from the MENA region, handpicks films each year that challenge stereotypes and represent key works from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq.
Programme for Arab Women Film Days
The Arab Women Film Days' schedule is as follows:
Friday, 26th May: 'Curfew' at 19:30 and 'The Women in Block J' at 21:30, with the director Mohamed Nadif in attendance.
Saturday, 27th May: 'Daughters of Abdul Rahman' at 19:15.
A short discussion will follow all screenings.
Directions to LantarenVenster
LantarenVenster is located at Otto Reuchlinweg 996, 3072 MD Rotterdam, Netherlands. It's situated in a vibrant area of the city, easily accessible by public transport and with ample parking. The area is buzzing with cultural venues, restaurants, and the famous Erasmus Bridge just a stone's throw away.
