ARAB FILM NIGHTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATING 10th YEAR
CALGARY – The Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society (CAACS) celebrates its 10th Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival (CAFN) between October 7 and 9 at the Globe Cinema.
CAACS has been organizing its Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival since 2013. This October 7, the 10th festival will take place at the Globe Cinema. The Festival begins with the Opening Night event “Canadian Eye on the Arab World”, featuring a screening of locally produced “Uncivilized”, a short documentary film directed by SAIT graduate, Rawd Almasoud. The short film will be followed by Canadian-made “Peace by Chocolate”, based on the true story of the Hadhad family, Syrian refugees who established the Peace by Chocolate artisanal chocolate shop.
The festival’s opening night will be preceded by a reception hosting high profile invitees, including community leaders, partners, sponsors and artists. “We’re pleased by the support received thus far by the different levels of government”, says Mr. Moness Rizkalla, Chairperson.
The second day of the Festival will present two features, comedy “C-Section” from Lebanon, and joint European-Tunisian-Egyptian production “Sharaf”, based on the novel by Sonallah Ibrahim.
The closing night will screen a compilation of short films, including Sudanese, Egyptian and the Emerati productions, focusing on women-centered stories. CAACS is also excited to present “The Last Baron”, a locally produced short documentary about the ubiquitous Albertan fast-food institution, Burger Baron. Director Omar Mouallem will be attendance. The shorts compilation will be followed by Jordanian drama/comedy “Daughters of AbdulRahman” and Palestinian drama feature “Huda’s Salon”.
This has been a year of exciting growth that included collaboration with local, regional and international film festivals, says Bassem Hafez, CAACS Board member. This year, we were delighted to continue our relationship with CIFF, being the community partner to the Moroccan feature, “The Blue Caftan”. CAACS is partnering as well with the Calgary European Film Festival, the Calgary Justice Film Festival and the Okotoks Film Festival screening Arab features, documentaries and shorts at the partner festivals.
For more details please contact the Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society, email: hello@caacs.ca, telephone: 4036300338 & 4036810842.
ARAB FILM NIGHTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATING 7th YEAR
CALGARY – The Calgary Arab Art and Culture Society has pulled out all the stops in celebration of its seventh year of the Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival – October 18-20, 2019 at Globe Cinema.
“As always, we are very excited about the rapidly approaching Arab Film Nights 2019,” says Executive Director Moness Rizkalla. “The films that we selected to screen this year perfectly match the festival’s objectives and what our dedicated festival goers look for, which is to show everyday life in, and the diversity across, the Arab world.
This year’s festival includes the fifth consecutive year of ‘Canadian Eye on the Arab World’ which is a goal to at least have one movie in the festival that is Canadian made and is about the Middle East or Canadian Arabs. This year, we’re presenting Wall on October 20th, a National Film Board of Canada by Cam Christiansen”
“The weekend’s film program will have something for every taste, from documentaries like Wajd: Songs of Separation by Amar Chebib – a musical documentary of Syrian/Canadian production, and award-winning features ranging from the comedic to the very serious. Something unique to this year’s program is that we’re presenting Dachra, a Tunisian horror movie, screening on the late evening of Saturday, October 19th” adds Rizkalla.
For tickets and more information, visit calgaryarabartssociety.ca.
For Media Inquiries:
Noha Mohamed, Director of Marketing
587-892-1477 noha@redfm.ca
Facebook – Calgary Arab Arts and Culture Society
Instagram – yyc_arabarts
Twitter – yyc_arabarts
The Calgary Arab Art & Culture Society is a not-for-profit society made up of progressive Arab-Canadian professionals, business people and friends. The Society’s goal is to share with Calgarians a fuller, more realistic, side to life in the Arab world. The Society’s activities include wide range of cultural events with a focus on different types of arts like music, comedy, poetry and more.
ARAB NIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATING FIFTH YEAR
The Calgary Arab Art and Culture Society has pulled out all the stops in celebration of its fifth year of the Arab Nights Film Festival.
“As always, we are very excited about the rapidly approaching Arab Film Nights 2016,” says Executive Director Moness Rizkalla. “The films that we selected to screen this year perfectly match the festival’s objectives and what our dedicated festival goers look for, which is to show everyday life in, and the diversity across, the Arab world.
This year’s festival includes the second consecutive year of the Canadian Eye on the Arab World night May 11 featuring two National Film Board of Canada films: Edmonton director Nisreen Baker’s Things Arab Men Say and Grassroots in Drylands. ‘
“The weekend’s film program will have something for every taste, from documentaries like the sociopolitical Tickling Giants, and features ranging from the comedic to the very serious,” adds Rizkalla.
Special guests this year include Baker, and star Zeid Hamdan of documentary Yallah Underground. Hamdan is representing two films as he was also the composer for Sunday’s closing film Barakah Meets Barakah. Tickling Giants Bassem Yousef will also be available for a video Q&A session on May 12.
For tickets and more information, visit calgaryarabartssociety.ca.
For Media Inquiries:
Kelsey Hipkin
kmhipkin@gmail.com
403-700-8698
Twitter – yyc_arabarts
Facebook – Calgary Arab Arts and Culture Society
Instagram – yyc_arabarts
The Calgary Arab Art & Culture Society is a not-for-profit society made up of progressive Arab-Canadian professionals, business people and friends. The Society’s goal is to share with Calgarians a fuller, more realistic, side to life in the Arab world. The Society’s activities include wide range of cultural events.
Arab Film Nights 2016 sets record attendance numbers
With an added night and a bazaar in support of Syrian refugees, the Calgary Arab Art and Culture Society’s 2016 film festival was its most successful to date.
This year’s lineup of films included the addition of an extra evening April 28 – CanadianEye on the Arab World – with Oscar-nominated Incendies and the critically acclaimed Inch’Allah. Films such as On the Bride’s Side showed a timely relevance with events unfolding in Syria and beyond. And art and cinematography was showcased in films like Nefertiti’s Daughters and Atlantic.
Leading up to the film festival, the Calgary Arab Art and Culture Society held a number of events at local post-secondary institutions screening Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. The film was also screened April 29 and Calgary’s own Colin Curwen of New Machine Studios was in attendance to discuss his involvement with the film. Curwen was not the only special guest, as panels and discussions also included Atlantic director JanWillem van Ewijk, Raja Khouri of the Canadian Arab Institute and Luke Azevedo with Calgary Economic Development.
On closing night Sunday, art and wares were featured in a bazaar with all proceeds going to Syrian refugees. The Calgary Arab Art & Culture Society is a notforprofit society made up of progressive ArabCanadian
professionals, business people and friends. The Society’s goal is to share with Calgarians a fuller, more realistic, side to life in the Arab world. The Society’s activities include wide range of cultural events.
Inquiries for next year’s festival and other CAACS events can be directed to:
Kelsey Hipkin, CAACS board secretary
403-700-8698
Eman takes the stage at Calgary YukYuk’s
In conjunction with Yuk Yuk’s, the Calgary Arab Art and Culture Society is pleased to present Arab-Canadian comedienne Eman ElHusseini.
Eman has travelled throughout Canada, the United States and the Middle East creating laughs as she goes. The comedienne has been featured in The National Post, the Toronto Star and the Montreal Gazette who described her as “fearless and ferociously funny”.
Eman has also extensively worked the comedy festival circuit, making appearances at the New York Arab American Comedy Festival, CBC’s Cracking up the Capital and the fifth annual Arab Women in Film. Eman takes the stage at Calgary YukYuk’s July 2325, with doors opening at 6:30 and the show starting at 7:30. Tickets are $12.
Get your tickets here: https://www.yukyuks.com/calgary
Announcing Arab Film Nights 2015
Announcing Arab Film Nights 2015 Friday June 5th to Sunday June 7th
OFFICIAL CALL FOR ENTRIES
The Society’s third annual film event & Calgary’s 6th Arab Film Festival, Arab Film Nights 2015, will be held at Festival Hall in Inglewood, 1215 10 Ave SE.
The society has an open call for Submissions for 2015.
1) Arab world, Middle East or North African themes only.
2) Films in Arabic, French, English, Hebrew, Berber or other Arab/Middle Eastern N. African languages accepted, but must be subtitled in English
3) Documentary, shorts, animation or feature films welcome
4) Only films completed after January 1, 2015 will be considered.
5) Preference will be given to films not previously publicly screened in Alberta or Canada
6) Films available for download or sale via the internet are not eligible.
7) Formats accepted are DVD, BluRay, MP4, Real Player
8) Filmmakers must deliver final format as indicated for festival screening.
The Calgary Arab Art & Culture Society is a not-for-profit society made up of progressive Arab-Canadian professionals, business people &friends. The Society’s goal is to share with Calgarians a fuller, more realistic, side to life in the Arab world. The Society’s activities include wide range of cultural events.
For further information please visit: www.CalgaryArabArtsSociety.ca
Announcing Arab Film Nights 2015 Friday June 5th to Sunday June 7th
Another year has passed and once again the Arab Film Nights in Calgary is back!
“We are very excited about the rapidly approaching third annual Arab Film Nights 2015,” says executive director Moness Rizkalla. “The films that we selected to screen this year perfectly match the festival’s objectives and what our dedicated festival goers look for, which is to show everyday life in, and the diversity across, the Arab world.
This year’s line-up includes films from Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Palestine covering a variety of topics and genres.
“The weekend’s film program will have something for every taste, from short films to features, and ranging from the comedic to the very serious,” adds Rizkalla.
The Calgary Arab Art & Culture Society is a not-for-profit society made up of progressive Arab-Canadian professionals, business people & friends. The Society’s goal is to share with Calgarians a fuller, more realistic, side to life in the Arab world. The Society’s activities include wide range of cultural events.
Media inquiries: Kelsey Hipkin
Communications Co-ordinator
kmhipkin@gmail.com
403-700-8698
Facebook: Calgary Arab Arts & Culture Society
Twitter: YYC_Arab Arts
CBC Eyeopener 2014
Calgary Arab Film Nights Festival executive director Moness Rizkalla talks about some of the films being shown this weekend.
Announcing Arab Film Nights, Friday June 6th to Sunday June 8th 2014
Calgary’s 5th Arab Film Festival, Arab Film Nights 2014, will be held at Festival Hall in Inglewood, 1215 10 Ave SE. The Films, listed below, are filmed in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Egypt & Syria.
This year we will be accepting donations for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Syrian Relief Fund.
Complimentary refreshments & hors d’oeuvres will be served during intermission.
Friday June 6 7:00 PM: When Monaliza Smiled – A Jordanian romantic comedy featuring a strong heroine who battles Arab stereotypes & tradition. Set in Amman, Jordan. In Arabic with English Subtitles. This film has been nominated for
various awards in the Middle East. PG
Friday June 6 9:15 PM: La Moakhza (Excuse my French) – A Western Canada Premier! A coming of age film, about a Christian boy who pretends to be a Muslim when he transfers to a new school. This is a delightful story filled with social commentary about school life in Egypt through the eyes of a young boy. In Arabic with English Subtitles. G
Saturday June 7, 6:00 PM: Al Oustadh (Professor). Shot during Tunisia’s Arab Spring, this is an award winning (DohaTribeca Festival – Best Actor) political thriller about Tunisia’s crackdown on opposition activists during the 1970s. In French & Arabic with English Subtitles. PG
Saturday June 7 8:15 PM: Zabana! This story about Algeria’s first martyr in the 1950s war of independence from France. This was Algeria’s official entry in the 85th Academy Awards. In French, Berber & Arabic with English Subtitles. PG
Saturday June 7 10:15 PM: Rock The Casbah. A western Canadian Premiere! It rocked Toronto & Ottawa earlier this year! This film features a strong female cast and is directed by renowned Middle Eastern director Laïla Marakkchi. An endearing family drama with a twist, it is set in Tangiers around the funeral of the family patriarch, played by Academy Award winner Omar Shariff. French & Arabic with English Subtitles. 14A
Sunday June 8 6:00 PM: Syrian Shorts. A screening of seven recent short films produced by Syrian film makers. Some were clandestinely filmed during the current crisis in Syria. Artistic, creative and thought provoking. Arabic with English Subtitles. PG
Sunday June 8 7:15 PM: The Village Under the Forest. Ever wonder what happened to the money collected by schoolchildren in the West for Israeli re-forestation programs? This award winning documentary (Encounters Film Festival 2013) follows a South African filmmaker’s quest to find out the story behind one such project. English and Arabic with Subtitles. PG
General Admission: $25.00/night per person
Students: $20.00/night per person
Weekend Pass: $60.00 per person
Ticket price includes refreshments & hors d’oeuvres at intermission.
The Calgary Arab Art & Culture Society is a not-for-profit society made up of progressive Arab-Canadian professionals, business people and friends. The Society’s goal is to share with Calgarians a fuller, more realistic, side to life in the
Arab world. The Society’s activities include staging a wide range of cultural events.
For further information please visit: www.CalgaryArabArtsSociety.ca
Facebook: Arab Film Nights
Twitter: YYC_Arab Arts
info@CalgaryArabArtsSociety.ca
