Rotterdam, June 4 (SANA) The 26th edition of the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival (RAFF), scheduled for June 10-14, will showcase a diverse program of Arab cinema and culture, with a special focus on Syria.
The festival will open with Chronicles from the Siege, directed by Abdallah Alkhatib. The film follows residents living under siege and won the Best First Feature Award in the Perspectives section of the Berlin International Film Festival. A live performance by Syrian artist Mira and the Dandana Band will precede the screening.
Among the Syrian-focused films is Shapeshifting, directed by Juline Hadaya and Yamen Mekdad, which explores Syrian identity, music and displacement through archival footage and interviews with artists in Syria and across Europe.
The festival will also screen Why Do I See You in Everything?, a documentary by Rand Abou Fakher following two Syrian friends whose activism spans the Syrian uprising and advocacy for Palestine while living in exile in Berlin.
Founded in 2000 and supported by the City of Rotterdam, RAFF has grown into one of Europe’s leading platforms for Arab cinema, promoting cultural exchange and showcasing films from across the Middle East and North Africa.
M.F / ABD
