The Arab Film Festival, now in its 24th edition, has announced its schedule for 2024, from May 30 to June 2. The event promises an in-depth exploration of the Middle East and North Africa through its cinematic productions, portraying diverse societal themes. View the entire Arab Film Festival program on the Arab Film Festival website.

 

Venues and special programming

The festival will be hosted across several venues in Rotterdam, including LantarenVenster, Verhalenhuis Belvedère, and Pathé Schouwburgplein. A special programme will also take place on the Cruiseferry Silja Europe docked in Merwehaven, enhancing the festival's immersive experience.

International guests and featured films

Notable attendees will include Ahmed Helmy from Egypt and Bushra, highlighting the festival’s international reach. Opening performances will feature Leila Al Bayaty’s "From Abdul to Leila", and other films like "Hajjan" and "Deserts" will be screened, both acclaimed for their storytelling and visual artistry.

Broad array of films and discussions

The festival's lineup includes films like "Backstage", "Goodbye Julia", and "Behind the Mountains", covering a broad spectrum from short films to documentaries. It also serves as a platform for discussions on current issues, such as the situation in Palestine and Israel, and the role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.

Special events and ladies night

A Ladies Night is scheduled for June 1, featuring the film "Flight 404" along with pre-show activities such as Arabic music, Moroccan tea, and henna designs, creating a culturally rich atmosphere for attendees.

 

Rotterdam Rooftop Days are part of Rotterdam Architecture Month. The Rotterdam Rooftop Days encourage exploration and enjoyment of the city's upper levels. Activities are grouped into three main categories:

1. Open Rooftops: Accessible on 25 and 26 May from 11:00 to 17:00, these rooftops offer a blend of experiences including exhibitions, performances, and refreshments. A Dakpas (rooftop pass), priced at €9.50, grants entry to all open rooftops for one day.

2. Guided Tours: These tours, available on the same days as the Open Rooftops, provide a more structured experience with guided visits to rooftops that have a significant story or unique features. The tours are primarily in Dutch and cater to those looking to delve deeper into the city’s architectural and cultural layers.

3. Specials: Spanning from 24 to 26 May, these events include a diverse array of rooftop happenings, from theatre productions and film

If you're worried about language, that's not a problem. A list has been made with all the rooftop events that are language independent (or English). Check it out here. 

About Rotterdam Rooftop Days

The annual Rooftop Days weekend consists of around 60 roofs open for visitors, often accompanied by a guide or featuring music, theatre, or visual arts.  During the Rotterdam Rooftop Days, you can visit all these varied roofs throughout the city. As a visitor, you will access lofty spots, where you would normally only find air installations and solar panels, or locations (as on most roofs) where, usually, nothing is happening at all. The rooftop festival programme focuses on creative ways to use these spaces, as the city becomes increasingly crowded and congested. Artists and designers will demonstrate the potential of rooftops to make the city more enjoyable, sustainable, and sociable. Highlights of this edition include various theatre performances, specially created for the rooftop as a stage, with the skyline as a backdrop.

New in 2024: 'Over de Bogen' - a walking concert

One of the festival’s highlights is "Over de Bogen", a collaborative project between O. Festival for Opera, Music, Theatre, and the Dakendagen. From 17 to 26 May, participants can embark on a two-kilometer walking concert across the Hofbogen roof, offering a unique musical journey through various city districts. This event marks the first and last opportunity to experience this route before the area undergoes significant changes.

 

 

 

Upstream is a three-day event, co-created with over 40 partners dedicated to supporting the growth of companies committed to accelerating the transition to a future-proof economy that is digital, carbon-neutral, circular, and inclusive. The festival gives its attendees access to an international ecosystem of talent, funding, markets, and exposure opportunities. As changemakers from different backgrounds and industries come together to leverage their innovations, they highlight the position of the Greater Rotterdam Metropolitan Area as a fast-evolving tech environment for businesses to grow.

 

Every year, Upstream invites the Dutch innovation community, as well as international corporations and investors, resulting in over 45 different events happening throughout the festival. Past editions attracted over 2000 attendees. Every edition of Upstream Festival continues the tradition of aligning its core events around three themes: talent, capital, and growth.

 

The festival's program is rich with opportunities for networking and learning, featuring a variety of formats such as roundtables, workshops, and keynote speeches. Side events will also play a crucial role, with over 20 different gatherings planned across Rotterdam and neighbouring cities. These events are designed to enhance collaboration and feature discussions on critical topics like capital access, market expansion, and talent acquisition.

 

 

This year's event focuses on driving sustainable growth and innovation within the digital, carbon-neutral, circular, and inclusive economy sectors. It will feature more than 25 speakers, including influential founders, thought leaders, and corporate change-makers from various European startup communities. The program includes a mix of fireside chats, panel discussions, and networking events designed to facilitate deep connections and collaborations.

Significantly, the festival will extend beyond the main event days with over 20 side events across multiple cities, enhancing the opportunity for attendees to engage in more personalized and targeted interactions. These side events are co-created with various partners and focus on essential themes such as access to capital, market expansion, and talent acquisition, crucial for startup and scale-up growth.

For those interested in attending, tickets and further details about the specific events, speakers, and agenda updates are available on the festival's official website.