The Arab American National Museum (AANM) cordially invites you to our 11th annual Arab Film Festival (AFF), which kicks off June 3rd-12th! The AFF is part of the larger Cinetopia International Film Festival, so we’re a festival inside of a festival. This year’s lineup is bigger and better than ever! The AFF will showcases 8 Arab & Arab American directed films, many of which are unlikely to reach American commercial theaters. Many of the films are making their Michigan and U.S. debut! All films will have English subtitles.
We’re pleased to bring legendary singer/writer, Ziad Rahbani’s film, What About Tomorrow/Bennesbeh Laboukra Chou! The film isn’t really a film at all but a collection of old 8mm footage from Rahbani’s play, with the same name. The film looks likely to become the highest grossing Lebanese film of all time! The screening at the AANM on Sun, June 5th will be the film’s U.S. premiere!
Making its Michigan debut is the unique thriller, Zinzana , the first film of its kind to come out of the UAE, whose director was recently awarded the Arab FIlmmaker of the Year award by Variety Magazine.
Our eye-opening shorts program includes some of the best short films from around the world, including Egyptian film, Dry Hot Summers , Lebanese film, Waves 98, and Palestinian Academy Award nominee film, Ave Maria!
We’re also pleased to announce the band 47SOUL will be performing at the AANM on June 5th as part of their debut U.S. tour! Their sound is rooted in Arabic debkah, a traditional line plus infusing electronic and urban sounds, which takes them far out of the ‘world music’ context and places them in the genre of a new generation of international electronic/hip hop acts. For tickets/info: http://bit.ly/AANM47S
For a list of all of our films, director/actors attending & other films in Cinetopia: http://www.bit.ly/AFF16. Hope to see you here!