Films from Here provides a snapshot of contemporary filmmaking from the Middle East and North Africa through the lens of The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), an independent grant-making organization founded in 2007. While international coproductions are increasingly the norm in the industry, AFAC also posits itself as a champion of daring and impactful artistic expression in a time when limited production frameworks are exacerbated by turmoil throughout the Arab world.
The six features and two short films in this series, which were made between 2013 and 2015, emphasize a rich blend of narrative, documentary, and experimental traditions and act as a counterpoint to mass media images from the region. While these works often respond to the political and social conditions of their native countries—Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Palestine—they approach their subjects through archival research, found footage, reenactment, satire, genre, and auteurist storytelling.
Most screenings are New York premieres, and most will feature conversations with filmmakers between September 24 and 26. All films are in Arabic with English subtitles, unless otherwise noted.
Organized by Sophie Cavoulacos, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film. Presented in association with The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture.
Support is provided by the Ford Foundation.
