The dates of the 27th edition are still pending due to local restrictions, but it is currently scheduled for November 10-19.
Arab Film Festival has extended its submission deadline for feature and short films until July 21, 2023, for its 27th edition.
The flagship event of the Arab Film and Media Institute, the Arab Film Festival is the longest-running independent festival of its kind in North America.
Submissions will also qualify for InFocus: Arab Cinema, in partnership with NewFilmmakers LA and the Academy of Motion Pictures.
Launched in 1996, the festival’s mission is to present the best contemporary films illuminating the richness of Arab culture through authentic narratives and images, providing insight into the beauty and complexity of the Arab world.
The dates of the 27th Arab Film Festival are still pending due to local restrictions, but it is currently scheduled for November 10-19, 2023. The organisers expect a hybrid model of limited in-person screenings in San Francisco and Los Angeles, with virtual offerings available nationally.
The festival also offers special programming to local audiences, and access to the diversity and range of authentic Arab experiences.
The applicants should adhere to the following guidelines: films must have been produced between 2021 and 2023; all non-English language films must be subtitled in English; fill out all project information on FilmFreeway (incomplete entries will not be considered); all categories of the film are accepted: feature, short format, narrative, documentary, hybrid, experimental, animation, etc; insert screeners on the FilmFreeway submission form via private and/or password protected links; films must be from and/or about the Arab World and/or about Arab persons and/or created by an Arab; and rough cuts or works-in-progress are accepted and reviewed by the programming committee; however, filmmakers are urged to submit as close to the final cut as possible.
The festival will notify entrants of its decision on or before October 6, 2023.
A pre-screening committee will select four finalists in each category after reviewing all films in the official selection.
