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20th Arab Film Festival

All Films & Events

  1. Watch Trailer Watch Trailer

    Namour

    Heidi Saman / US / 2016 / Drama / 80 mins
    Set in the economic recession of the late 2000s, Steven Bassem spends his evenings as an all-but-invisible valet, acutely aware of his dead-end situation. As the bonds of his once tightly knit Arab-USn family erode, Steven acts out in increasingly erratic ways, and struggles to figure out who he is and what he ought to be doing.

    Preceded by: Temporary

    Temporary | Namour

    Shattuck Cinemas
    October 15, 2016 5:05 pm

    Temporary | Namour

    Harmony Gold
    October 23, 2016 6:00 pm

  2. Nasser

    Jihan El-Tahri / France, South Africa / 2015 / Documentary / 97 mins
    Nasser chronicles the rise and fall of the Arab World’s most influential modern leader.
    Nasser

    Embarcadero Center Cinema
    October 8, 2016 4:20 pm

    Nasser

    Harmony Gold
    October 22, 2016 7:15 pm

  3. Opening Night After Party

    240 mins
    After the film screening, join the Arab Film Festival crew and special guests for an unforgettable night. Lounge, dance and enjoy good company at the Mercer while DJ Emancipacion’s set takes us on musical meanderings from Egypt to Oakland.
    Opening Night After Party at the Mercer

    Mercer
    October 7, 2016 10:00 pm At the Door

  4. The Sniper of Kobani

    Reber Dosky / Netherlands, Syria / 2015 / Doc Short / 12 mins
    Haron is a sniper who came to the Syrian town of Kobani to end the ISIS occupation. Amidst the city ruins, he hides out and reflects on his hopes and fears.

    Precedes: The Cow Farm

    Precedes:
    The Cow Farm w/Shorts

    Shattuck Cinemas
    October 16, 2016 1:00 pm

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    Starve Your Dog

    Hisham Lasri / Morocco / 2015 / 94 mins
    Casablanca, 2015. A washed up political heavyweight comes out of hiding to confess his crimes in a rundown studio before a camera no one can get to work.
    Starve Your Dog

    Embarcadero Center Cinema
    October 11, 2016 6:00 pm

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    The Tainted Veil

    Mazen Al khayrat,Ovidlo Salazar,Nahla A Fahad / Denmark, Egypt, France, Morocco, Netherlands, Syria, Turkey, UAE, UK / 2015 / Documentary / 78 mins
    The layers of the veil in history and the many meanings behind it are explored in this documentary. 'Women are either judged for wearing the hijab or not wearing it.' In 'The Tainted Veil,' the challenges surrounding these ideas are exposed in a debate by diverse guests and extraordinary stories. The Tainted Veil won 'Best Documentary' at both the Silk Road Film Festival in Ireland and the International Film Festival in Jakarta. It was also a finalist for the American Movie Awards.

    Preceded by: Mariam

    Mariam | The Tainted Veil

    Embarcadero Center Cinema
    October 9, 2016 3:00 pm

    Mariam | The Tainted Veil

    Harmony Gold
    October 22, 2016 12:50 pm

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    Very Big Shot

    Mir-Jean Bou Chaya / Lebanon / 2015 / 108 mins
    A Small time drug-dealer stumbles upon a brilliant way to smuggle amphetamines across the Lebanese border. He enlists the help of an underrated filmmaker and in the process discovers how to slyly manipulate public opinion. Lebanon's official entry to the 2017 Oscars Los Angeles: Reception @6pm | Q&A with Director following screening
    Very Big Shot

    Embarcadero Center Cinema
    October 9, 2016 6:55 pm

    Los Angeles Opener: Very Big Shot

    Harmony Gold
    October 21, 2016 8:00 pm

  8. Visions

    104 mins
    With stories ranging from the profound examinations of the identity and belonging to reflections of political events that have shaped the world we live in, this program showcases the various ways that talented Arab Filmmakers experiment with film form and subject matter.

    In This Program: And on a Different Note, Electrical Gaza, In Damascus, Now: End of Season, Panic Attack, The Park, A Stroll Down Sunflower Lane

    Shorts Program: Visions

    Embarcadero Center Cinema
    October 10, 2016 6:00 pm

    Shorts Program: Visions

    Shattuck Cinemas
    October 15, 2016 1:00 pm

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    Yallah! Underground

    Farid Eslam / Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine / 2015 / Documentary / 85 mins
    Yallah! Underground follows some of today’s most influential and progressive artists in Arab underground culture and documents their work, dreams and fears in a time of great change for Arab societies. After years of turmoil and instability, young Arabs now have to challenge both old and new problems, being torn between feelings of disillusion and a vague hope for a better future.

    Preceded by: Epicly Palestine’d: The Birth of Skateboarding in the West Bank

    Epically Palestine’d | Yallah! Undeground

    Shattuck Cinemas
    October 15, 2016 7:15 pm