Arab Film Festival 2016

Overview

From Lebanese rom-coms to Iraqi road movies, you'll find a remarkable mix of Middle Eastern cinema on the program at this year's Arab Film Festival. Return for its 13th year with stops in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth, the festival will once again showcase films from across the Arab world, while shining a light on the diversity and eccentricity of its people.

The festival begins with an opening night screening of Halal Love, a romantic comedy about a group of devout Lebanese Muslims who find that love and religion don't always mix. It's one of a number of Lebanese films on the program, which also includes a new film version of the classic stage comedy Bennesbeh Labokra, Chou? that incorporates footage from performances more than 35 years ago.

Also in the mix is El Clásico, about a pair of brothers trekking from Iraq to Madrid to deliver a pair of shoes to soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Roshmia, a documentary about an elderly Palestinian couple in a standoff with Israeli authorities who want to demolish their home.

For the full Arab Film Festival program including session times, go here.