GLENDALE, Calif. (KABC) — In the world of film festivals, you’ve probably heard of Sundance, Cannes, and Telluride. But a relatively new festival is starting to make an impact. And they’re showing movies that we basically don’t get to see.
The Hollywood Arab Film Festival is in its third year of celebrating Middle Eastern cinema.
“Bye Bye Tiberias” is one of several films that make up the Hollywood Arab Film Festival. This is a passion project of festival director Maykel Bakhoum.
“We are a nonprofit organization and our goal is to celebrate diversity and celebrate inclusion in Hollywood society,” Bakhoum said. “And right now, diversity and inclusion is more important than ever. And to be able to see our films screened in this industry, we’re living in those times.” I feel happy.”
Middle Eastern filmmakers traveled to Los Angeles to attend the festival, hoping that Hollywood would be open to what they had to offer.
“It’s very important for us to be here,” Tarek El Ghanaini said. “Hollywood, at the end of the day, Hollywood is the capital of the movie world. So to have a voice here and be represented in some way is something we’re always looking for.”
“Now it’s a matter of finding distribution, because getting a film into a film festival is another matter, but for us these festivals are a way to open the door to distribution,” said Mohamed Hefzi. Told. “And I think without distribution, these movies will continue to be niche.”
The Hollywood Arab Film Festival offers something that movie fans here don’t often get to see.
“That’s one of the reasons I started this festival, because I’ve been living here for 16 years and I’ve never had the opportunity to see Arab films shown on the big screen,” Bakhoum said. “And we had that goal. We need to show people our story. Our story tells who we are.”
The Hollywood Arab Film Festival runs from April 17th to 21st, with all screenings held at Look Cinema in Glendale.
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