Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) announces jury

The Malmö Arab Film Festival has announced the members of the juries for the competitions of its sixteenth edition, scheduled to take place from April 10 to 16, 2026, in Malmö, Sweden.
The Feature Film Competition Jury consists of Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah, Tunisian actress Aïcha Ben Ahmed, Saudi producer Ayman Jamal, Algerian actor Hassan Kechache, and Moroccan film critic Jihane Bougrine.
The Documentary Film Competition Jury includes Iraqi film critic Erfan Rashid, Egyptian director Hala Galal, and Sudanese director Marwa Zein.
Meanwhile, the Short Film Competition Jury consists of Iraqi director Basim Sabah, Syrian actress Yara Sabri, and Palestinian producer Ola Salama.
The festival will also host the International Critics’ Jury (FIPRESCI), organized in collaboration with the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). The jury includes Egyptian film critic Marwa Abueish, German critic Schayan Riaz, and Slovenian critic Petra Meterc.

Commenting on the selection of the juries, Festival Founder and President Mouhamad Keblawi said:
We are delighted at the Malmö Arab Film Festival to welcome this distinguished group of filmmakers and critics from around the world as members of the juries for the festival’s 16th edition. The diversity of their professional backgrounds and artistic experiences reflects the richness of both the Arab and international cinematic landscape, and brings credibility and high artistic value to the festival’s competitions.
We are also proud to welcome, for the first time, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) jury to the festival, which will present the FIPRESCI Award to one of the participating films. This step represents an important addition to the festival’s international standing and reflects the growing interest of global critics in Arab cinema and in the films presented at the festival.
We are confident that the jury members will contribute their expertise and insights in evaluating the participating films with professionalism and integrity. We also look forward to their participation enriching cinematic dialogue and strengthening the presence of Arab cinema on the international stage.

The Malmö Arab Film Festival has announced the film program for its sixteenth edition, scheduled to take place from April 10 to 16, 2026, in addition to the members of the juries for the festival competitions. The announced program includes 39 films, comprising 22 feature films and 17 short films, produced by 14 different Arab countries, with co-productions involving 14 Western countries. The films are distributed as follows: the official Feature Film Competition includes 10 films, the Documentary Film Competition includes 7 films, the Short Film Competition includes 11 films, in addition to two films in the "Arab Nights" program, one film in the "Special Screenings" program, two films in the "School Screenings" program, five films in the "Voices from Sweden" program, and one family film.
Festival Founder and President, Mouhamad Keblawi, “The films selected for the 16th edition of the Malmö Arab Film Festival reflect the growing international presence of Arab cinema. Most of these films have been screened at major international and regional festivals, where they received significant recognition from both critics and audiences. By presenting them in Malmö, we aim to open a window for audiences in the city of Malmö and across Sweden to discover some of the most important contemporary Arab films, and to experience powerful human stories that reflect the diversity and richness of cinema in the Arab world today.”
The opening film of the festival is The President’s Cake by Iraqi director Hassan Hadi, a co-production between Iraq, the United States, and Qatar, while the closing film is Love Imagined by Egyptian director Sara Razek, an Egyptian production.

Feature Film Competition
Hijra (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, UK) – directed by Shahad Ameen
All That’s Left of You (Palestine, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Cyprus) – directed by Cherien Dabis
Sink (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France) – directed by Zain Duraie
BAAB (United Arab Emirates) – directed by Nayla Al Khaja
Calle Málaga (Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium) – directed by Maryam Touzani
Where the Wind Comes From (Tunisia, France, Qatar) – directed by Amel Guellaty
Yunan (Germany, Canada, Italy, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) – directed by Ameer Fakher Eldin
My Father’s Scent (Egypt, Norway, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar) – directed by Mohamed Siam
The Stories (France, Egypt, Austria, Sweden) – directed by Abu Bakr Shawky
Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream (Iraq, UAE, Qatar, France, UK, Saudi Arabia) – directed by Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji

Documentary Film Competition
My Father and Qaddafi (Libya, USA, Sweden) – Directed by Jihan
Flana (Iraq, France, Qatar) – Directed by Zahraa Ghandour
One More Show (Egypt, Palestine) – Directed by Mai Saad and Ahmad Al Danaf
To Dream Perhaps (Tunisia, France) – Directed by Nidhal Guiga
Habibi Hussein (Palestine, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Sweden) – Directed by Alex Bakri
Anti-Cinema (Saudi Arabia) – Directed by Ali Saeed
Life After Siham (France, Egypt) – Directed by Namir Abdel Messeeh

Short Film Competition
Somewhere Else (Kuwait) – Directed by Haya Alghanim
Suspension (Lebanon) – Directed by Nour Akiki
Paradise Garden (Morocco, France) – Directed by Sonia Terrab
Salopette (Tunisia) – Directed by Feryel Ben Boubaker
Irtizaz (Saudi Arabia) – Directed by Sara Balghonaim
Salem Not Salem (Bahrain) – Directed by Omar Farooq
Umbilical Cord (United Arab Emirates) – Directed by Ahmed Hasan Ahmed
Coyotes (France, Palestine, UK, Jordan) – Directed by Said Zagha
32 B (Egypt) – Directed by Mohamed Taher
The Victim Zero (Algeria) – Directed by Amine Bentameur
The Last Miracle (Egypt, Sudan, Germany) – Directed by Abdelwahab Shawky

Arabian Nights
Complaint No. 713317 (Egypt) – Directed by Yasser Shafie.
Esaaf (Saudi Arabia) – Directed by Colin Teague.


Special Screenings
The Last Chapter (Finland) – Directed by Mohamed El Aboudi


Swedish Voices Program
$PIRAL (Sweden) – Directed by Sosi Chamoun
Laundry Time (Sweden) – Directed by Filson Ali
Let Me Open the Door (Sweden) – Directed by Assi Kassouha
One Day I Will Hug You (Sweden, Palestine, Qatar) – Directed by Mohammed Fares Al Majdalawi
Sing My Song (Sweden) – Directed by Julia Ammouri


Family Film
The Escape to School (Sweden, Palestine) – Directed by Mohammad Sahli
 
Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) is the largest and most influential festival dedicated to Arab cinema in Europe. Founded in 2011, the festival serves as a vital platform for Arab filmmakers to showcase their work, engage in cross-cultural dialogue, and connect with international industry professionals. MAFF offers a diverse program of film screenings, industry initiatives, and networking opportunities, fostering collaboration between the Arab and Nordic film industries.