Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Pages 47-48

Music & Arts

Arabian Sights Film Fest

Washington, DC’s 14th Annual Arabian Sights Film Festival featured 13 of the most dynamic, provocative, and inspiring new films from Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Yemen, Syria, Algeria and Palestine. The films played at the National Geographic Society and Landmark’s E Street Cinema from Oct. 9 to 18. All the films in the series were Washington, DC premieres and had English subtitles. A number of the Arab directors were present at their screenings, told moving stories, and discussed the issues facing their region.

DC audiences selected “Masquerades” as their favorite film of the series. Algeria’s humorous and tender submission to the 2009 Academy Awards, “Masquerades” also won Best Film award at the Dubai International Film Festival. “Writer/director/and star Lyes Salem is someone we’ll certainly be seeing more of,” Shirin Ghareeb said in her welcoming remarks as she introduced First Secretary at the Algerian Embassy Djalal Kacimi. The film takes on traditional village life and depicts the role women play in Algerian society. Although men dominate in public life, women are the bosses at home. The Embassy of Algeria co-sponsored a reception following the Oct. 17 screening featuring Algerian wine and food.

Yemen’s first locally produced film, “The Losing Bet,” pokes fun at self-righteous militants and explores the high price of terrorism on the families left behind. Director Dr. Fadhel Al Olofi hoped to educate young Yemenis to reject violence. According to Yemen’s Public Affairs Officer Mohammed A. Albasha, the film made a positive impact at home, but upset extremists, so the director now requires round-the-clock protection.

Ghareeb, who organizes the Arabian Sights Festival each year, finds venues, volunteers, sponsors, speakers and, of course, superb films—and makes it all seem effortless and fun. For movie lovers who missed the festival, look out for the films above, as well as “London River,” “Open Shutters Iraq,” “Fawzeya’s Secret Recipe,” “Number One,” “Hassan and Morcos,” “Francaise,” “Laila’s Birthday,” “A Fiance for Yasmina,” “The Long Night,” “A Road to Mecca: The Journey of Muhammad Asad,” and “Welcome.”

—Delinda C. Hanley