Monday, October 15, 2018

Arabian Sights Film Festival Announces Guest Filmmakers

On Borrowed Time opens the 23rd annual Arabian Sights Film Festival

From our friends at Filmfest DC...

Who Are the Guest Filmmakers at the Arabian Sights Film Festival?

The 23rd annual Arabian Sights Film Festival kicks off Thursday, October 18 to present 10 new and exciting films plus a shorts program by and about women from the Arab world. Running through Sunday, October 28, the Festival features films from numerous Arab countries including Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and the UAE, plus other European, Canadian and Arab co-productions.

WHAT: 23rd Arabian Sights Film Festival


WHEN: October 18-28, 2018

WHERE: Screenings will be held at AMC Mazza Gallerie Theatres, 5300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

TICKETS: $14 per ticket unless otherwise noted. Discount Package - 10 tickets for $100 (does not include Opening Night and Closing Night.) Student discount available at the theater. Tickets can be purchased on our website, filmfestdc.org/arabiansights.

MORE INFORMATION: For more information, please visit filmfestdc.org/arabiansights.

WHY: The Arabian Sights Film Festival showcases the latest and most intriguing films made by innovative directors who tell engaging stories while exploring issues facing the Arab region. The festival highlights quality cinema from a region often overlooked in mainstream American theaters.

Highlighting the growing participation of women in the film industry, Filmfest DC+ and the Arabian Sights Film Festival are pleased to present ASWAT: Short Films By & About Arab Women. Aswat means voices in Arabic. Featured will be the latest short film by WADJDA director Haifaa Al-Mansour, The Wedding Singer’s Daughter. The director of Battalion to My Beat, Eimi Imanishi, will be present for a post-screening discussion with the audience. The full list of short films can be viewed at filmfestdc.org/arabiansights. (ASWAT: Short Films By & About Arab Women will be screened on Sunday, October 28 at 2:00 PM and is a free program.)

Confirmed Guests:
Friday, October 26 & Saturday, October 27: Lebanese writer, director, social activist and Fulbright grant recipient Lucien Bourjeily discusses his multi-faceted social drama HEAVEN WITHOUT PEOPLE during a post-screening Q&A.

Saturday, October 27 & Sunday, October 28: Syrian-Canadian filmmaker Amar Chebib will be on hand to answer questions about his new documentary on traditional Sufi music, WAJD: SONGS OF SEPARATION.

Sunday, October 28: Director Eimi Imanishi talks about a young Saharawi girl in her short film BATTALION TO MY BEAT.

The Washington, DC International Film Festival (Filmfest DC) is the parent organization of the Arabian Sights Film Festival.

About Filmfest DC:
Since its inception in 1987, Filmfest DC has become one of Washington's major cultural events, enhancing the profile of the nation's capital both nationally and internationally. Filmfest DC is a District-wide event, bringing together the city's major cultural institutions in a spirit of cooperation and celebration. Films that have premiered at past Festivals encompass a broad range of international cinema. Arabian Sights is one unique annual festival created and administered under the FFDC umbrella. For more information, visit www.filmfestdc.org.