Trailers of the Festival Films
Letter of the Chairperson
Throughout this journey, we have grown from a boutique festival into a western Canada cultural broker.
In the 3rd year, we were approached by the Calgary Society for Independent Filmmakers to organize a thematic screening of an Arabic film, followed by a discussion with the audience. We also were approached by Springboard Performance to organize two events, and have recently concluded our board retreat commencing efforts to take our organization beyond Calgary.
After a Calgary-wide and month-long activities, organizing 6 art exhibitions for two dozen artists from Arab origins, the challenge in 2026 is to go Alberta-wide.
Beyond these events, and our October 14th Arab Film Nights Festival, we entered the year determined to restructure the organization, apply for funding to increase awareness, dialogue and make peace through different projects. These projects include Placement of Hidden Talents from the Arab Canadian community in Arts & Culture organizations, and and others to follow. This year, we added to our three-day festival a Trailer Night, hoping to raise the standards and appealing to different communities.
With amazing board and admin body, I look forward to realizing these dreams with amazing community and stakeholders, especially that we started the last year with completing our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement .. and entering 2026 planning for our first ever GALA.
Thank You
It gives me pleasure to enter the new year with the Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society expanding and restructuring as a solid organization with big dreams and big stakeholders to realize these dreams. Over the past 14 years, we’ve founded, developed and nurtured the Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival. Beside it, we expanded to include standalone projects that are not only film- related. We have organized independent screenings, Poetry Nights, and participated in like-minded festivals, in Calgary, in Alberta and even overseas.
Moness Rizkalla
Mission
Vision
CAACS envisions a diversified arts scene in Canada in which Arab-themed arts have the opportunity, space and resources to tell a different story, the power to build bridges, deepen relationships, and accordingly advance a more equitable society.
CAACS’s vision is anchored in the belief that arts have the power to evoke emotions, provoke thought, and promote empathy.
The Calgary Arab Arts and Culture Society is a not-for-profit non-denominational organization whose objectives include:
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Creating opportunities for Canadians to gain appreciation of, participate in and enjoy different forms of Arab.
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Engendering a sense of pride in Arab cultural heritage among Arab Canadians.
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Fostering co-operation among Canadian organizations, groups and individuals working to promote the public appreciation of and participation in multicultural artistic.
Statement of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society is committed to presenting a film festival that prioritizes equity, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility. The Society’s Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival is committed to offering accessible admission for all screenings, which anchors our mission to provide a platform through film and visual arts that is open to everyone and creates awareness and discussion about issues that matter to our community.
Since 2022, the Board of Directors recruited new board members and initiated new screening and programming committee members to ensure the festival is represented and shaped by people with diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and professional skills. The programming committee reviews over 100 films each year and uses specialized and non-specialized opinions as a blueprint to select a wide range of films that represent the principle of "nothing about us, without us”, meaning diversity and lived experience is present both behind and in front of the camera.
In 2017 the festival introduced the Canadian Eye on the Arab World as the opening night of the festival to encourage the de-ghettoization of the Arab community in Canada to have a diversified set of stories that examine different issues relating to topics such as gender diversity and equality.
To build understanding, promote advocacy, and foster relationships, CAA&CS includes post-film discussions at our screenings. These discussions are facilitated by filmmakers or subject matter experts whose experiences reflect or respond to the DEI message inherent in the film.
We strive to highlight current issues of local and international importance and to expose audiences to new perspectives, issues, and initiatives connecting Canada with the Arab World. Ultimately, we aim to empower and motivate our audiences to take action in their own communities to reduce the barriers that otherwise restrict diversity and social equity.
Land Acknowledgement
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, The Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society honours and acknowledges Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Stoney Nakoda Nations: Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney and Tsuut’ina Nation. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta Districts 5 and 6. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory.
This sacred gathering place provides us with an opportunity to engage in and demonstrate leadership on reconciliation. Thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment to join our team on the lands of Treaty 7 territory.