Arab film festival Safar is back for its tenth edition this year with a line-up of 35 films, including six UK premieres, that showcase the diversity of a culture that spans the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. The urgent state of affairs in Palestine is acknowledged with films including Mohammad Bakri's documentary Jenin Jenin (2002) and A State of Passion (2024), which follows a war surgeon work in Gaza's emergency rooms.
The festival opens with the UK Premiere of the newly restored classic Watch Out for Zouzou (1972) at Ciné Lumière, while Sudan, Remember Us (2024) by Hind Meddeb at the ICA will close the fest, along with a director's Q&A. Other highlights include The Brink of Dreams (2024), which follows a group of girls who form a street theatre troupe in Egypt, and Khaled Mansour’s Seeking Haven for Mr Rambo (2024), a heartwarming thriller about a boy trying to protect his friend and dog, which won the Grand Prize at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The line-up also includes short films by emerging talent, masterclasses, and workshops for emerging Arab film talent.
