The Third Hollywood Arab Film Festival Is Now Open to Submissions

Calling on all Arab filmmakers

Gearing up towards its third iteration, the Hollywood Arab Film Festival (HAFF)— a ceremony that aims at “introducing world cinema professionals to the Arab film industry”— is now officially open to submissions for its forthcoming edition. 

Coinciding each year with Arab Heritage Month, the platform that wants to serve as a bridge between our region’s talents and Western industry professionals, is making its much-anticipated comeback, from April 17 to 21, 2024, and is currently in the process of choosing which titles to put under the spotlight next. 


As the festival grows in importance each year, the Los Angeles-based gathering has announced that it is accepting entries for its upcoming celebration of Middle Eastern and North African cinema. With a first deadline set for Dec. 15 for regular submissions, and Jan. 15 for late submissions, projects must have been completed in either 2023 or 2024 and sent over via either Vimeo or FilmFreeway. What’s more, applicants presenting films in any other language than English must provide subtitles to be considered. 

Acting as a connecting point for different cinematic voices to converge, HAFF reaffirms its intention to foster cultural exchange in the global film industry by calling on all filmmakers from across the Arab world to share their stories with a broader audience. As our region’s silver-screen industry has recently been receiving more acclaim than ever from the world’s most esteemed institutions, initiatives like these are proving to be vital in not only showcasing the diversity of our region’s perspectives but also nurturing it to its full potential.

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