Press Release - 4th Annual Toronto Arab Film Festival

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hosted by Toronto Arab Film
Release: May 12, 2023 [For Immediate Release]

This year’s Toronto Arab Film Festival (TAFF) will take place in the city of Toronto and online across Canada, from June 1-11, 2023. TAFF is the first of its kind in Toronto, a non-profit festival focused on presenting and promoting films by Arab filmmakers across the world—for both Arab and non-Arab audiences alike. 

The fourth edition of the festival will host in-person screenings and activities at the Revue Cinema, Innis College, 1411_D and the Goethe Institute, with additional virtual screenings available through the Toronto Arab Film website. 

This year’s programme spotlights a broad range of both feature-length and short films. They include fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental works by filmmakers from the Arab world and its diasporas. Films include opening night Palestinian film Mediterranean Fever, winner of the best screenplay award in Cannes' Un Certain Regard, an outdoor family friendly screening of the enchantingly animated Dounia et la princesse d'alep and closing the festival this year is A Gaza Weekend, by oscar-nominated filmmaker Basil Kahlil.

This year we are boasting an increased number of Arab-Canadian films including two feature documentaries: Desert Rocker by Sara Nacer, a profound portrait of the extraordinary Hasna El Becharia, a pioneer Gnawa artist, and the comedic saga of The Lebanese Burger Mafia by Albertan Omar Mouallem, following a successful run at Hot Docs earlier this month.

The Festival is also hosting various professional development events including workshops on Story Editing with Abdul Malik and Digital Marketing Mastery with Carolina Oliveira, and a panel highlighting the Canadian opportunities available for emerging filmmakers and producers.  

TAF awards offer a financial reward to winning filmmakers, along with a one-of-a-kind trophy designed by a local artist, Habiba El Sayed. Awards include the Juthour Jury Award for Most Promising Filmmaker, the Qayqub Award for Best Canadian Short Film, the Yamama Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film, and the Nakheel Jury Award for Best Feature Film.

To explore the festival programme and purchase tickets, visit www.arabfilm.ca. Viewers are encouraged to take advantage of early bird discounts, available until May 26. All non-English films will have subtitles. 

About ​Toronto Arab Film
​Toronto Arab Film (TAF) is a non-profit organization bringing films from and about the Arab world to Toronto audiences. TAF began in 2017 with the goal of addressing a lack of films from the Arab world in Toronto film programming. It has since grown into a multifaceted organization that promotes the diversity of Arab cultures, builds community, creates opportunities for exchange, and develops emerging artists. TAF is ultimately rooted in a desire to reinstate a tradition that has been lost over time: coming together to share in the joy of film and culture.

We would like to thank the following funders for their generous support of our festival and it's activities:

Thanks to our community partner:

For inquiries:
rolla@arabfilm.ca 

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