ABOUT US
The aim of the Sydney Arab Film Festival is to showcase stories emerging from diverse Arabic speaking cultures to all Australian audiences that reflect the complexity and diversity of Arab experiences. Furthermore we aim to address the (mis)representations of Arab culture through film by providing critical spaces and give exposure to alternative representations of Arab culture, Arab commentary and self-representation.
HISTORY
The Sydney Arab Film Festival was first held in April 2001 with a 3 day Program at the Roxy Cinema in Parramatta. It was a joint project of Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Information and Cultural Exchange, Fairfield Community Resource Centre and the Powerhouse Museum. It was an associated event of East of Somewhere – a contemporary Arab Australian cultural project initiated by Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.
In 2004, Information & Cultural Exchange hosted another Sydney Arab Film Festival event: A Big Night of Arab Shorts. It was held at Hoyts Merrylands in conjunction with the Holroyd City Fest and showcased local short films by Arab Australian filmmakers.
The 2nd Sydney Arab Film Festival is hosted by Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) and driven by a volunteer organizing committee. ICE aims to support the Sydney Arab Film Festival into an independently managed annual event in the coming years.
2nd Sydney Arab Film Festival Organising Committee:
- Abbas Makrab
- Alice Ansara
- Anna Cominos
- Alissar Chidiac
- Alissar Gazal
- Daniela Flaxl
- Elie Assi
- Fadia Abboud
- Fatima Mawas
Joanne Saad
Maissa Alameddine
Mireille Astore- Omar Qador
- Razy Eid
Sohail Dahdal- Soraya Asmar