SAFAR Arab Film Festival at Plymouth Arts Cinema

Plymouth Arts Cinema is thrilled to be working with The Arab British Centre to screen the 2023 edition of the SAFAR Film Festival spanning 1-8 July. The theme for this year’s programme is A Journey Through Space And Time as SAFAR invites audiences to travel through a world of Arab cinema, mapping the region across a new axis and showcasing films which traverse territories and historical periods.

Throughout the last decade SAFAR has been the only festival in the UK dedicated to promoting cinema from the Arab world and offering a unique space for audiences to explore and celebrate Arab cinema past, present and future. Now, this pioneering festival remains the UK’s largest showcasing of Arab feature films, documentaries and shorts.

All tickets are £5/ £4 concessions.

Ashkal

Saturday 1st July, 5.30pm

In the Gardens of Carthage - an eerie, half-finished district of Tunis, initiated by the former Regime but where construction stopped at the beginning of the Revolution - two cops, Fatma and Batal, find a burnt body in one of the lots. As construction slowly resumes, they start looking into this mysterious case. When the event repeats itself, the investigation takes a puzzling turn.

Foragers (12) + Soup Over Bethlehem

Thursday 6th July, 6pm

A double-bill of films about food and politics. The screening will be followed by a za’atar tasting and talk by Zaytoun CIC, a social enterprise inspired by a love of Palestinian culture, communities and cuisine.

The Blue Caftan (12A)

Friday 7th July, 6pm - Saturday 8th July, 2.30pm

Halim and Mina run a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest medinas. In order to keep up with demanding customers, they hire a talented young man as an apprentice. The Blue Caftan won the International Critics' Prize at Cannes 2022.

This entertaining, thought-provoking and innovative festival will feature over 30 screenings across the UK including 11 UK premieres, a first-ever SAFAR family screening, new releases and classic films, plus live events with 15 filmmakers and industry practitioners. The opening night will be held at Ciné Lumiere, before the festival travels across London and into the Barbican and ICA. The Garden Cinema is welcomed for the first time as a host venue alongside new national partners The Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford, and The Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham. SAFAR Film Festival will screen in nine cities nationwide, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Chester (part of the Liverpool Arab Arts Festival), Hull, Plymouth, Oxford, Cardiff and Glasgow, and is proud to present its 2023 edition in partnership with Shubbak Festival, Europe’s largest festival of contemporary Arab cultures.

"We are thrilled to see how SAFAR has grown over the years, becoming the largest showcase of Arab cinema in the UK. It's been exciting to witness the increasing interest and enthusiasm from audiences for Arab cinema, and we are proud to continue to provide a unique space for exploration and celebration of this vibrant and diverse film culture." - Amani Hassan, Acting Executive Director, the Arab British Centre.

"It has been a joy to collate a diverse range of films that explore the rich and varied landscape of Arab cinema. This year's programme is particularly special as we've been delighted to discover films with unique and seldom-seen locations, as well as revisiting past narratives through fresh perspectives, using archive, oral history, and pop culture. We're excited to transport our audiences through time and space to experience the vibrant cultural tapestry of Arab cinema." - Rabih El-Khoury, SAFAR Film Festival Curator.

Further news of special guests, venues and box office booking information will follow soon. For regular updates subscribe to the SAFAR newsletter and prepare to immerse yourself in this exciting and unique programme from 29 June - 9 July 2023.

Watch the SAFAR 2023 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I7NOQCXwHE

Tickets on sale now: www.safarfilmfestival.co.uk