MENA Film Festival (MENAFF) 2020
The most beautiful films from the Middle East and North Africa

On June 11, 12, and 13, Laaktheaterthuis.nl serves as a platform for filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa. On our online channel, Laaktheater Thuis, we screen beautiful and powerful international films focusing on identity, peace, and justice. The films are judged by both an international professional jury and the public. We cordially invite you to watch and judge the films on the three festival days.

Festival background
Local resident Mohammad Amin felt there was a lack of short films from the MENA region. Specifically for this festival, he selected 21 uncensored films for the fourth time. Through their work, these filmmakers depict the true situation in their countries—in many cases at great personal risk. This edition features a number of special gems. Such as Finding Farideh, a film by Iranian Azadeh Moussavi and the Iranian entry for the 2020 Oscars. Eline Farideh Koning was adopted by a Dutch couple at the age of one, but she has longed for her biological parents her entire life. She decides to place an appeal in an Iranian newspaper. Three families respond… This film was screened as a 2Doc documentary and is now showing at the festival.

Festival program
The festival screens both short and feature films and documentaries from Iraq, Iran, Senegal, and Morocco, among others. A selection from the program includes: A Mile In My Shoes by Said Khallaf, Bodies by Bilal Bahacham, 73˚ C by Baz Shamoun, Golden Fish, African Fish by Grand Thomas, La Der Des Der by Patrice Guillain, Stories of Passers Through by Koutaiba Al-Janabi, Test by Reda Lahmouid, The Swing by Tarik Rasmi, The Tattoo by Fatima Aglaz, The Windows Muse by Mamadou Diop, and Wrida the Language of Flowers by Fahd Reja. A large number of these films are award-winning productions at major film festivals at home and abroad.

Online festival
This fourth edition of MENAFF will take place online due to the limited screening possibilities caused by the coronavirus. For three days, all films can be watched unlimited and for free via the Laaktheater online channel: Laaktheaterthuis.nl. There you will also find other fringe programming, trailers, and a filmmaking masterclass by an internationally renowned filmmaker. The festival includes a competition in which the public can vote for their favorite film. In addition, there is a judging and awards ceremony by an international jury.

Info and program: www.laaktheater.nl and http://www.laaktheaterthuis.nl
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as well: @laaktheater.



How to respond / more information
You must log in to respond