Festival Program
Ten days of exceptional Arab cinema across Sydney and Melbourne
2025 Theme: Horizons
This year's festival explores the theme of "Horizons" - the boundaries we cross, the perspectives we gain, and the futures we imagine. Through diverse narratives spanning genres and generations, we present films that expand our understanding of the Arab world and its place in global cinema.
Categories
Opening Night Gala
1 filmPrestigious world premieres and landmark films
Feature Competition
12 filmsOutstanding narrative features competing for awards
Documentary Features
10 filmsNon-fiction explorations of Arab life and culture
Short Films
20 filmsBold and innovative shorts under 40 minutes
Student Showcase
8 filmsEmerging talent from film schools across the region
Retrospective Series
5 filmsClassic Arab films that shaped cinema history
Sample Schedule
Friday, November 1
Opening Night Gala: The Last Night
Layla Hassan
Saturday, November 2
Desert Roads
Omar Khalil
Short Film Program 1
Various
Voices of the City
Sara Mansour
Sunday, November 3
Documentary: Threads of Memory
Fatima Al-Qasimi
Between Two Shores
Ahmed Nasser
Industry Panel: The Future of Arab Cinema
Panel Discussion
Full schedule released October 2025
Venues
Palace Cinema Central
Sydney
Premium cinema with state-of-the-art projection and sound
123 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Dendy Opera Quays
Sydney
Boutique cinema with stunning harbour views
2 East Circular Quay, Sydney NSW 2000
ACMI Cinema
Melbourne
Australia's national museum of screen culture
Fed Square, Melbourne VIC 3000
Classic Cinemas
Melbourne
Historic art house cinema since 1910
9 Gordon Street, Elsternwick VIC 3185