Arab Film Series: Queer Arab Films

Starting next week! A special selection of Queer Arab films in celebration of June Pride month as part of the Arab Film Series online.

Screening Online: June 24-26

RSVP at arabfilmseries.org

Free / $5 suggested donation

Films available in North America

FILM PROGRAM

Brothers, Mike Mosallam, United States,  2018,  9 mins

Son of a Dancer, Georges Hazim, Lebanon, 2018, 20 mins

Dearborn Ash, Hena Ashraf, 2United States, 2019, 9 mins

Marco, Saleem Haddad, United Kingdom/Lebanon, 2019, 22 mins

The Arab Film Series online is a monthly program of films and discussions with artists and filmmakers from the SWANA region and its diasporas, presented by ArteEast in partnership with the Arab American National Museum and Arab Film and Media Institute.

Image credit:  Son of A Dancer, directed by Georges Hazim

Brothers, Mike Mosallam, United States,  2018,  9 mins

Brothers is a coming-of-age short film-music video hybrid that follows a Muslim Arab boy as he comes to terms with his sexuality. Upon recognizing that he is different through the lens of his family and society as a whole, he decides to face his fears with the support of an older brother who stands by him and encourages him to be himself, in the face of bias and adversity.

Son of a Dancer, Georges Hazim, Lebanon, 2018, 20 mins

Arabic with English Subtitles 

Majed, a 20-year-old man, is grieving the loss of his recently deceased mother. One day, he gets the shock of his life when he learns that she used to be a belly dancer. Torn between his relationship with his now-silent father, and Hanine, the woman who will help him overcome his grief; he takes a trip down memory lane in an attempt to discover the mysterious past of his mother.

Dearborn Ash, Hena Ashraf, United States, 2019, 9 mins

In the midst of the Arab-American enclave of Dearborn, Michigan, Roshan has moved back to her parents’ house in Metro Detroit after many failed years in NYC. With her OCD in overdrive she meets up with her old college friend Ayman during Ramadan. He disrupts their iftar plans, however, and Roshan finds herself having to deal with all sorts of characters who take over her car. The night turns out to be full of surprises – some annoying, and some wonderful.

Marco, Saleem Haddad, United Kingdom/Lebanon, 2019, 22 mins

English, Arabic with English

 Omar has been living in London for a decade. He spends his days working in the City, and his nights ignoring phone calls from his family back in Lebanon. One evening, restless after another pleading voicemail from his mother, he reaches for his phone and invites over Marco, a Spanish student newly-arrived in London, who’s doing sex work to earn some extra cash. But when Marco arrives, Omar can’t shake the feeling that something’s not right about the young man. As their night together progresses truths are revealed, defenses are lowered, and Omar discovers the lengths that Marco has gone to reach London.

RSVP FOR ARAB FILM SERIES

June 24-26: Arab Film Series special Pride program ++ Walid Raad’s Festival of Gratitude