NYC Arab Film Calendar

Screenings by, about and related to the Arab World in the New York City area - including non-Arab stories written by, directed by or starring Arab talent.

All That's Left of You
Jan
9
to Jan 29

All That's Left of You

In the moments before a Palestinian teen is confronted by Israeli soldiers at a protest in the West Bank, his mother recounts the series of events that led him to that fateful moment, starting with his grandfather's displacement from Jaffa in 1948.

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The President's Cake
Feb
6
to Feb 12

The President's Cake

While people across 1990s Iraq struggle to survive the war and food shortages, the President requires each school in the country to prepare a cake to celebrate his birthday.

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Gaza Mon Amour
Feb
12

Gaza Mon Amour

Sixty-year-old fisherman Issa is secretly in love with Siham, a woman who works at the market. When he discovers an ancient phallic statue of Apollo in his fishing nets, he hides it, not knowing what to do with this mysterious and potent treasure. Yet deep inside, he feels that this discovery will change his life forever.

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Anxious in Beirut
Feb
23

Anxious in Beirut

In the ever-present desire to capture, record, and understand Beirut, and by extension himself, Zakaria has been trying to give a coherent story to his city.

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Palestine 36
Mar
20
to Mar 26

Palestine 36

In 1936, as the British Empire tightens its grip on Palestine, Yusuf is caught between his village home and his work in Jerusalem. Amidst an anti-colonial revolt, and Jewish refugees fleeing persecution from Europe, all sides converge in a decisive moment for the entire region.

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Four Daughters
Apr
9

Four Daughters

Olfa, a Tunisian mother, faces her older daughters' disappearance as actresses help recreate their story, blending reality and drama to explore the family's journey between light and darkness.

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Ziyara
Apr
16

Ziyara

Celebrated filmmaker Simone Bitton embarks on a personal road trip across Morocco, tracing the remnants of the country’s once-thriving Jewish community.

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All That's Left of You
Jan
28

All That's Left of You

In the moments before a Palestinian teen is confronted by Israeli soldiers at a protest in the West Bank, his mother recounts the series of events that led him to that fateful moment, starting with his grandfather's displacement from Jaffa in 1948.

View Event →
Zubaans of Palestine 2
Jan
28

Zubaans of Palestine 2

M&N Productions, The Zubaani Collective, Poets For Palestine and Balady Film Club present acollaborative screening: “Zubaans of Palestine 2” with Gazan filmmaker and guest of honor, Ahmad Wuhidi. Featuring Wuhidi’s two short films, “Echoes of Two Lands” and “The Regret”.

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Other Resources for Arab Film in NYC & Online

  • A NY-based arts collective specializing in Middle Eastern film programming, ArteEast has become a leading organization amplifying the arts related to the South West Asia North Africa (SWANA) region and its diaspora engaging with New York, U.S. and international audiences and arts communities.

    arteeast.org

  • The Arab Film and Media Institute (AFMI) is the first organization of its kind outside the Arab world, a unique ecosystem to find, nurture and develop Arab film and media projects.

    arabfilminstitute.org

  • The first and only museum of its kind in the United States devoted to recording the Arab American experience. It serves as a touchstone that connects communities to Arab American culture and experiences. Since opening in 2005, AANM’s goal has been to document, preserve and present the history, culture and contributions of Arab Americans.

    arabamericanmuseum.org

  • A series of lesser known, or just lesser shown, films from the Arab world, selected to challenge and excite curious cinephiles, expand their knowledge of international cinema and provide a greater understanding of Arab arts and culture.

    yasmina-tawil.com/cinema-arabiyya

  • ANA Contemporary Arab Cinema is an annual film series that highlights award-winning films by today’s best Arab directors.

    anaarabcinema.com

  • New York City’s first Arab and Arab American art and culture festival, celebrating the song, dance, fashion, performance, ideas, and cuisine that have made Arab heritage part of American heritage.

    newyorkarabfestival.com

  • A series highlighting MENASA (Middle East, North African, and South Asian) stories that showcase the humor, heartbreak, nuance, and insight that films from Muslim cultures have brought to cinema.

    movingimage.org/series/infinite-beauty

  • A free platform streaming the best independent films from the Arab region. 

    aflamuna.online

  • The independent streaming service and curatorial platform for South-West Asian and North African (SWANA) film and video.

    shashamovies.com

  • Watermelon+ is a streaming platform amplifying bold voices from marginalized and underrepresented communities. From award-winning documentaries and festival favorites to unforgettable narratives and hidden gems, Watermelon+ delivers powerful, entertaining stories on our own terms. Get early access to new releases and explore the most definitive collection of Palestinian cinema ever assembled.

    watch.watermelonpictures.com/

  • A free film archive of solidarity and struggle.

    solidaritycinema.com

  • PFI is a voluntary and independent Palestinian non-profit organization established in 2019. The PFI was born from a shared desire among active Palestinian-identified film professionals to create an inclusive body with the mission of developing, promoting, and preserving Palestine’s cinema, and to empower the film industry in Palestine and for Palestinians around the world.

    palestinefilminstitute.org/en/pfp/

  • Palestine Film Index is a growing list of films from and about Palestine and the Palestinian struggle for liberation, made by Palestinians and those in solidarity with them.

    https://rb.gy/9k6nwx

  • A film production and distribution company which aims to entertain audiences and enrich the cultural landscape by promoting stories that reflect the perspectives and experiences of Palestinians as well as other marginalized groups around the world.

    watermelonpictures.com

Is there a NYC Arab film event missing from this calendar? Submit your event here.