There is no doubt that we are currently living in turbulent times, where injustices continue to prevail. In a world where voices continuously go unheard, ignored, or silenced, art forms, whatever medium they may come in, have the capacity to alter a narrative and inform. One of the many mediums that have the ability to do so is film, and that’s where the Safar Film Festival comes in. Taking place from June 18-30 across nine UK cities for its ninth edition, the esteemed festival will showcase a diverse array of films from the Arab world and diaspora, offering a platform for Arab filmmakers to share their narrative, while challenging stereotypes, fostering discourse and solidarity, and enhancing cross-cultural understanding.
This year’s theme curated by Rabih El-Khoury, On Dreams, Hopes, & Realities, centers on the daily realities faced across the region and reflects on how small hopes and bigger dreams can exist within such contexts. The programme, featuring new releases, classics, archive film, family friendly screenings, and more hailing from 15 Arab countries, invites viewers to reflect on how film can be used as a tool to come together, connect and challenge current realities. This year’s festival, set against the backdrop of ongoing genocide in Gaza, places Palestine at its core while also delving into narratives from Sudan, the Gulf, and beyond, providing a multifaceted reflection on the dreams, hopes, and realities of the region.
Kicking off the festival on June 18 at London’s Ciné Lumière is the documentary Life Is Beautiful by Mohamed Jabaly, offering a poignant exploration of European solidarity amidst the Gaza war in 2014. The film follows the journey of individuals stranded in Norway as they navigate the complexities of closed borders and geopolitical upheaval.
Among the highlights of the festival are Q&A sessions with filmmakers, including Lina Soualem, whose Bye Bye Tiberias offers a touching portrayal of Palestinian women across four generations, and Amr Gamal, who’s The Burdened delves into the complexities of family life in Yemen amidst societal challenges.
Adding depth to this year’s programme are films such as Inshallah a Boy from Jordan, which portrays a mother’s struggle for autonomy in the face of patriarchal structures, and Machtat from Tunisia, which shines a light on the lives of wedding musicians torn between tradition and personal desires. Additionally, from Sudan is Goodbye Julia by award-winning Sudanese filmmaker, Mohamed Kordofani, which interrogates the day-to-day experience of facing racism as a local from the South living in Khartoum. Lead actress, Siran Riak (Julia), will join the programme for Q&As.
Moreover, the festival pays homage to cinematic classics from the region, including Wedding in Galilee and Soraida, A Woman Of Palestine, offering audiences the opportunity to rediscover timeless gems.
Among the festival’s notable features are its new curator platforms, where SAFAR collaborates with international curators to bring fresh perspectives to the program. A standout addition is Talal Afifi, the visionary behind Sudan Film Factory and Sudan Film Festival in Khartoum. Afifi presents two captivating evenings under the theme Sudanese Cinema: Unfinished Journeys – Endless Dreams, offering a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of Sudanese filmmaking. From classics of the 1970s and 1980s to contemporary reflections on the 2019 revolution, these screenings not only delve into the socio-political landscape but also showcase the diverse cinematic techniques and visual experimentation that define Sudanese cinema across nearly four decades.
Nadia El-Sebai, Executive Director of the Arab British Centre, said: “Cinema has the remarkable ability to capture the essence of human experience from challenge and adversity to love and joy. The Festival forms a key part of our work to further understanding of the Arab world in the UK. Every year we share compelling stories from across the region, from the everyday to the extraordinary, highlighting relatable and distinct societal issues and building cross-cultural understanding and solidarity.
“This year we are honored to work once more with Rabih El-Khoury and our guest curators and partners across the UK, to present our biggest festival to date. Despite the shadows cast by the difficult realities faced across the region, SAFAR invites us to come together and find solace, hopes and dreams, in the universal language of cinema.”
Rabih El-Khoury, Curator, SAFAR 2024, added: “How does bearing witness to the realities of the Arab region empower us to confront them? Are we allowed to envision hope beyond these realities? And can we achieve our dreams individually, or must we collectively dream to ensure their realization? By sharing stories and narratives from 15 Arab countries, including focuses on Sudanese and Palestinian cinema, audiences will encounter themes spanning family dynamics, loss, love, migration, and the harsh truths of war and politics. Within these stories, and through challenging and captivating cinema, we aim to facilitate exchange, reflection and share strength in solidarity.”
For anyone visiting the UK this summer, be sure to check out the film festival, tickets go on sale tomorrow and are available for purchase here www.safarfilmfestival.co.uk.
