SIFF Movie: May Day
2026-05-11 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-05-14 14:30 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N,, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
Spain | 2026 | 103 min. | Ian de la Rosa
Iván (Silver Chicón), a young trans man working in a greenhouse in southern Spain, shoulders the burden of supporting his family through long, grueling shifts. His routine is disrupted by the arrival of Hadoum (Herminia Loh Moreno), a migrant worker of Moroccan descent who drifts from job to job in her battered van. Though they could not be more different, an undeniable chemistry sparks between them. As their relationship deepens, Iván is promoted and becomes Hadoum’s supervisor, throwing their attraction into a precarious and ethically charged path. Set against the working-class landscape of Almería, the film reveals the contradictions of inequality shaped by identity, labor, and social prejudice. Iván and Hadoum must navigate external expectations while confronting their own fears and desires. Chicón and Loh Moreno anchor the film with performances full of resilience, openness, and quiet nobility, bringing their characters to life with profound humanity and emotional depth. Winner of the Teddy Award at the Berlinale Film Festival and three Silver Biznagas at the Málaga Film Festival—including the Special Jury Prize and Best Male Performance for Chicón—Ian de la Rosa’s striking debut offers a vivid portrait of social divides: between employers and employees, “Spaniards” and immigrants. Against this backdrop, a tender, Romeo-and-Juliet–like romance unfolds, where love dares to bridge the divides that society has set between them.

SIFF Movie: American Doctor
2026-05-12 15:30 - 17:30 | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N,, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
Three courageous doctors—a Jewish orthopedic surgeon from North Carolina, a Zoroastrian trauma surgeon from California, and a Palestinian American ER specialist from Illinois—volunteer their services in Gaza, risking their lives to save others.
Director Poh Si Teng scheduled to attend.

Comedian: Saaniya Abbas
2026-05-12 18:30 - 20:00 | Emerald City Comedy Club, 210 Broadway E, Seattle, WA, 98102
Saaniya Abbas is a Dubai-based comedian and storyteller whose rise from sheltered good girl to globe-trotting cutie has captured audiences across continents.

International Hummus Day
2026-05-13
and a good day to take boycott action against Sabra Hummus.
Here is a fact sheet about Sabra: Factsheet – Sabra
If you see it sold in a cafe, in. at your work snack station, get a contact for who makes those decisions and write them a letter explaining why you do not feel it’s an appropriate product to have available:
Download this letter that you can edit and send: Send a letter to Sabra retailers

Supposedly these are good alternatives:

Cedar’s Hommus (Original): Ranked frequently as the top competitor for its silky-smooth, creamy texture and similar flavor profile.
Boar’s Head Traditional Hummus: A top-tier option that offers that same creamy, thick, and consistent texture, often described as highly satisfying.
Ithaca Hummus (Lemon Garlic) :An excellent choice for a strong, tangy, and garlic-forward profile, similar to the punchy flavor of Sabra.

But honestly, you should just make it from scratch!
https://cosetteskitchen.com/creamy-hummus

Virtual Movie Screening: Boycott
2026-05-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Join us for a special, virtual screening of Boycott, followed by a discussion on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 pm ET / 9:00 pm Jerusalem time that reunites protagonists from the film alongside civil rights attorneys and organizers to examine what this moment reveals about the evolving landscape of protest rights in the United States.
Upon registering, you will receive early access to stream the full film ahead of the event. This conversation will be moderated by Daniel Nerenberg, Education and Communications Specialist, Just Vision, and feature the following speakers:

Alan Leveritt, Publisher of the Arkansas Times and Boycott protagonist
Bahia Amawi, Palestinian-American speech therapist and Boycott protagonist
Brian Hauss, Deputy Director of the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, also featured in Boycott
Janan Najeeb, Founder and Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Coalition and Founder of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, a statewide coalition of 95 organizations working to repeal Wisconsin’s anti-boycott law

A Crafty Arab: Storytime
2026-05-13 16:00 - 18:00 | A Crafty Arab Studio, 2701 153rd Ave SE, Bellevue, WA
Join to share Arab children’s stories, or read from the Arabic library.
More info: acraftyarab@gmail.com

Understanding the Roots of Israeli Apartheid & its Present Regime
2026-05-13 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-05-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Virtual
American Muslims for Palestine (Chicago Chapter) presents the first of the special 5-week teach-in series titled “Understanding the Roots of Israeli Apartheid & its Present Regime,” live on Zoom with our education coordinator Tarek Khalil, where each session will have a particular focus.

May 6th – Gaza’s Siege & Blockade: The Creation of an “Open Air Prison”

May 13th: 1948 Palestinians: Foreigners in Their Ancestral Homeland

May 20th: The Right of Return: Apartheid’s Impact on Palestinian Refugees

A Crafty Arab: Hummus Contest
2026-05-13 17:00 - 19:00 | A Crafty Arab Studio, 2701 153rd Ave SE, Bellevue, WA
More info: acraftyarab@gmail.com

Story-telling in the Arab American Tradition
2026-05-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Pigott Auditorium – Seattle University, 901 12th Ave Sinegal Building, suite 140, Seattle, WA, 98122
Join your colleagues and students from across the university for a celebration of Arab American culture! This special event, in Pigott Auditorium, will feature four presenters and performers. It’s free, open to all, and will feature free food. Please RSVP for planning purposes.
Featuring:
Hebah Fisher | Kerning Cultures
Sabrene Odeh | Baladna PNW
Hanna Eady | Dunya Productions
Giovanna Khoury | SU Student
Food provided by Hamsa Arabic Cafe and Restaurant
Thanks to the College of Arts and Sciences and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for their support of this event.

SIFF Movie (Saudia Arabia) - Hijra
2026-05-13 21:00, 2026-05-14 12:30 - 14:00 | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N,, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
Saudi Arabia | 2025 | 114 min. | Shahad Ameen

Sitti is on a pilgrimage to Mecca with her two rebellious granddaughters, Sarah and Janna. But everything changes when one of the granddaughters goes missing.

SIFF Movie: Promised Sky
2026-05-13 21:15 - 23:00 | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave N,, Seattle, WA, 98109, United States
Tunisia | 2025 | 95 min. | Erige Sehiri

A community of Ivorian women navigating the complexities of migrant life in Tunisia are forced to make difficult decisions when they rescue an orphaned girl from a shipwreck.

Spotlight on Arab Stories: Global Screening Program
2026-05-14 - 2026-05-21
From May 14th to May 21st, AFMI Education presents a global screening program featuring a curated selection of short films by Arab filmmakers across the diaspora, paired with ready-to-use study guides that make classroom integration simple, engaging, and meaningful.
Through four thoughtfully curated film programs, 21 short films help students explore themes of identity, resilience, migration, belonging, and self-expression, while engaging with voices and perspectives often underrepresented in traditional curricula:

Palestinian Narratives
Women’s Perspectives
Arab American Stories
Lebanese Voices

Please note: these films are for students who are 13 years of age or older, with a couple of films limited to students 16 years of age or older.
Join us in continuing the spirit of Arab Heritage Month, because these stories, and the conversations they inspire, deserve to be experienced beyond a single month.
No cost. No barriers. Just brilliant storytelling.
This program is exclusively available to educators and students. Join educators around the world in bringing these important stories to life for your students. Sign up to get access.

Free Virtual Movie Screening Series (designed for classrooms)
2026-05-14 - 2026-05-21 | Virtual
Are you an educator or a student?
As Arab American Heritage Month comes to a close, the conversation doesn’t have to.
From May 14–21, AFMI Education presents a free virtual screening series designed for classrooms — featuring 21 short films by Arab filmmakers across the diaspora, paired with ready-to-use study guides.
Across four curated programs — Palestinian Narratives, Women’s Perspectives, Arab American Stories, and Lebanese Voices — students are invited to explore themes of identity, resilience, migration, belonging, and self-expression through voices often underrepresented in traditional curricula.
This program is open to students ages 13+ (with select films for 16+).
No cost. No barriers. Just powerful storytelling.
🎬 Available exclusively to educators and students. Visit our website to sign up and bring these stories into your classroom.

وقت القصة باللغة العربية / Arabic Story Time - KCLS
2026-05-14 17:00 - 17:30 | Virtual
Enjoy stories, music, movement and rhymes in Arabic that develop your child’s early literacy skills, then stay to play, have fun and make new friends.
All ages welcome.

وقت القصة باللغة العربية
!انضموا إلينا في وقت القصة باللغة العربية عبر الإنترنت، كل يوم خميس من الساعة 5:00 مساءً حتى 5:30 مساءً
.تمتعوا بالقصص العربية، والحركات المفعمة بالحيوية، والأناشيد التي تهدف إلى تنمية مهارات القراءة والكتابة…

Registration requiredRegister for event

Rainbow Story Time (online) w/ Lindz Amer
2026-05-15 11:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Join Lindz Amer, the award-winning LGBTQ+ activist, author and co-host of the beloved indie web series, Queer Kid Stuff, for songs and stories that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community all-year-round.
All ages welcome with adult.
Please register:
https://kcls.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvdOuqpzssGtC5XlvnFdvIAD2bwlBzP-RA

Weekly Peace Vigil
2026-05-15 16:30 - 18:00 | Percival Landing, 217 Thurston Ave NW, Olympia, WA, 98501
ONGOING LOCAL ACTIONS FOR PEACE

WEEKLY PEACE VIGIL
Every Friday 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Percival Landing in Downtown Olympia
4th & Water Street

We continue to vigil, network, and advocate for Palestinians, for peace with justice, and for our civil rights. Despite an agreed ceasefire, Israel continues to attack Gaza. Bring a sign and a friend, and join us at Percival Landing every Friday!
Thanks to the Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation for organizing these peace vigils through the years, and for inviting us to share this space as we advocate for peace.

Nakba Vigil - Save the Date
2026-05-15 18:30 - 20:30
This will mark 78 years since the Nakba, and another year in the ongoing struggle for Palestinian liberation.
Please join Palestinian community members for a vigil on May 15th, 2026 at 6:30pm. The vigil will include: a remembrance march, stories of ethnic cleansing, indigenous erasure, and survival from Palestinian and other indigenous community members.
We will also learn about destroyed Palestinian villages, the ways so called “Seattle” upholds the Zionist settler colonial project and build a collective art piece in commemoration.

More details and the location will be announced closer to May 15th .
Please mark your calendars!

Nakba Day Vigil
2026-05-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Denny Park, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle, WA, 98109
Via Autonomous Organizers: Join the community at Denny Park at 6:30 PM on May 15th for a Nakba Day Vigil. Please bring candles, art for a rememberance march. We will be building community consciousness and solidarity as we continue to fight for an end to the Zionist Entity’s genocide in Gaza and a Free Palestine.
We’ll also come together to learn about the Nakba from the stories of local community members, learn the history of the more than 531 Palestinian villages that were destroyed, and learn about Seattle’s normalization and legitimization of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, and Zionist settler colonial project.
As we build our movement for the next stage of struggle, we’ll learn together, build connections, and take action together. We will strive to stay on time and keep the event to 2 hours. Keep an eye out for more details on the vigil, art builds, and community supported carpools.

Virtual Movie Screenings: Every Saturday with Palestine Museum US
2026-05-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Check website: https://www.palestinemuseum.us/events for current showings and for registration links!
Often the screening ends with a Q&A with the director!

Arabic Storytime @ Lake City Branch / وقت القصص بالعربية في فرع ليك سيتي
2026-05-16 10:30 - 11:30 | Lake City – Seattle Public Library, 12501 28th Ave. N.E., Seattle, Washington, 98125, United States
At storytime, children from birth through elementary school and their families can enjoy stories, songs, and fun learning activities.
Event in English and Arabic.
———————————————————————————————
في وقت القصص، يمكن للأطفال الذين تتراوح أعمارهم من حديثي الولادة وحتى سن الخامسة وعائلاتهم الاستمتاع بالقصص والأغاني وأنشطة التعلُّم المرحة.
نرحب بالعائلات من جميع الأعمار.
يُعقد الحدث باللغة الإنجليزية والعربية.
Registration is not required.

Spring Wilderness Walk with Tareq- All Welcome
2026-05-16 11:00 - 13:30 | Seward Park (Duwamish Territory), 5900 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle, WA, 98118
Spring Wilderness Walks

5/16 Spring Wilderness Walk – All Welcome
A safe space for QTBIPOC to walk with us and co-regulate, especially if this is your first Trillium event.
​​For culture healing through relational learning and orienting ourselves as part of the natural world 🌍. A politicized container to weave power and address systemic injustice.

As always, this is a container to honor land, heal culture, connect, and expand towards justice and wellness for all.

WHAT TO EXPECT
The guidance will be tuned around the unfurling of spring. We’ll see who we run into and learn about their way of living and role in the ecological community.
We’ll also learn, relating, recognition, and reciprocal foraging. If we’re lucky, we’ll take some home to enjoy!

The Horse of Jenin
2026-05-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Cherry Street Village, 720 25th Avenue, Seattle, WA, United States
Saturday, May 16: “The Horse of Jenin” – Our exclusive screening of the powerfully expressive one-man show created by Palestinian performance artist and comedian Alaa Shehadeh. A graduate of The Freedom Theatre Acting School in Jenin Refugee Camp, Alaa has toured internationally to rave reviews. “The horse in Arabic is a symbol of freedom. But to us, the horse is much more. The horse is us.” The 80-minute film will be followed by a talkback with local artists who focus on embodied liberation, on parallel paths with Alaa. Come ready for a compelling show and a discussion that will feed your own imagination and activism.

Fragile Crossings: The Pathways, Barriers, and Cost of Pediatric Medical Evacuations From Gaza
2026-05-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
With Dr. Zeena Salman
Pediatric Oncologist
HEAL Palestine cofounder
for more info, check out the website here.

SIFF Movie (Egypt): Happy Birthday
2026-05-17 18:30 - 20:00 | PACCAR IMAX Theater at Pacific Science Center, 200 Sue Bird Ct N, Seattle, Washington, 98109
Egypt | 2025 | 92 min. | Sarah Goher

Eight-year-old Toha has big plans; she wants to throw her friend Nelly a birthday party. But the differences between them will make this a challenge in ways she may not fully understand.

Palestine Folk Arts Showcase
2026-05-19 08:00 - 17:00
May 24th 1pm – 2:30 pm, Palestine comes to the @nwfolklife festival for the 3rd year in a row!
The program will feature poetry by @giovanna_writes_poetry , music by @intisaarband and @houseoftarab and will close with an instructional dabke celebration by @seattledabke
Join us for a celebration of Palestine, PNW style!

The Arabian Table
2026-05-19 18:00 - 20:30 | Whisk, 10385 Main St, Bellevue, WA, 98004, United States
Arabian food, influenced by Nomadic, Persian, Indian and North African traditions, is a diverse, aromatic cuisine characterized by rich spices, succulent roasted meats, and staples like rice, pita bread, olives and chickpeas. Chef Hend Yahya grew up around an Arabian table in the PNW and will share her immense culinary background in this hands-on class by imparting a unique PNW twist on classic Arabian dishes. You will work with warm spices, various nuts and seeds, legumes and herbs, as well as vegetables and meats to create a warm and inviting three course Arabian dinner. Come hungry and be prepared for a unique culinary journey!

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Kabobs served over Rice
Hummus Fatteh-Layered dish with crispy pita, chickpeas, tahini sauce and various toppings
Hazelnut Baklava-Layered phyllo filled with nuts and soaked with sweetened syrup
Served with Karak Tea

Book Discussion: Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi
2026-05-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Contemporary Translated Works
Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, Translated by Marilyn Booth
May 20 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Zoom

Winner of the 2019 Man Booker International Prize, Jokha Alharthi’s Celestial Bodies follows three sisters in a small Omani village, each navigating love and marriage against the backdrop of a country transforming from a traditional, slave-owning society into its complex modern present. A multigenerational portrait of one family’s losses and loves, it is the first novel translated from Arabic to win the prize.
Free to Folio & NOTIS members.
RSVP to attend >>
Order Celestial Bodies >>
