The 15 anniversary Malmo Arab Film Festival

The Malmö Arab Film Festival (MAFF) its 15th edition,  took place from April 29 to May 5, 2025. On the red carpet at the opening, which took place at the Royal Cinema, one of Sweden's largest cinemas, festival guests, including Arab film stars and filmmakers, dazzled. The Egyptian comedic star Ahmed Helmy was honored by the festival for his creative contributions to cinema.
The announced 35 films (23 feature films and 12 short films) produced by 12 different Arab countries, with co-productions from 10 Western countries. The films are distributed as follows: the Feature Film Competition includes 12 films, the Short Film Competition includes 11 films, in addition to 2 films in the "Arabian Nights" section, 2 films in the "Special Screenings" section, 2 films in the Schools Screenings, and 1 film in the Family Screening.

Founder – Executive Chairman of the festival, Mouhamad Keblawi, commented on the selections:
"We are proud that the 15th edition of the Malmö Arab Film Festival brings together a selection of the finest recent Arab cinematic productions, reflecting the cultural diversity and creative richness of Arab filmmakers. This year, we have carefully curated a well-rounded program featuring powerful films with compelling themes and distinctive directorial visions, offering audiences a unique cinematic experience and the opportunity to engage with the filmmakers themselves.
Expanding our screenings to the cities of Lund and Landskrona further underscores our commitment to broadening the cinematic dialogue and bringing Arab films to a wider audience. We look forward to welcoming our guests—both filmmakers and audiences—to an edition filled with artistic excellence and meaningful discussions, reinforcing Malmö’s position as a key platform for Arab cinema in Europe."

The Feature Film Competition jury consists of Lebanese actress Takla Chamoun, Moroccan producer Karim Aitouna, Egyptian director Hala Khalil, Saudi director Hind Al Fahhad, and Iraqi producer Shaker K. Tahrer.
The Short Film Competition jury comprises Emirati director Aisha Alzaabi, Egyptian producer Sherin Magdy, and Jordanian actor Monther Rayhnah.
The opening film of the festival Ahlam Abira (Transient Dreams) by Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, is a co-production between Palestine, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and France.
As always, the festival extends beyond Malmö, bringing the magic of Arab cinema to the Swedish cities and even Copenhagen and Finland this year. 

At Panora Cinema Hall 1, “Arze” (Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia) by director Mira Shaib was screened, followed by an engaging Q&A with Diamand Bou Abboud, Lebanese star actress who plays young single mom Arze, and as the story evolves Arze finds herself in unknown territories literally as she drags her recently turned 18-year-old across Beirut searching for a stolen scooter. Abboud herself was also at the festival's panel discussion with moderator Mehdi Saleki, discussing topic, Filmmaking for social change, where she emphasizes that her acting character is a play and separate from her private world. She gives the impression of a very talented young actress who is young yet so humble.

Arze is the sweetest piece in the mixed box of chocolates offered in a form of feature films, short films, and documentaries during the anniversary 15th edition of Malmö Arab Film Festival. Which is why I understand it wins the Audience Award. Putting emphasis on all senses, this story set in Lebanon draws the cinema guests and one can almost taste the delicious smell of pasty baked by Arze and her older sister in a small Beirut apartment and the fear as she pants her beloved sister's most valuable item, gifted by a long-lost fiancé. It's the much-needed income that supports the trio in a time when the country experiences social change and uncertainty about tomorrow and uprisings.

The movie also evokes the melody of busy Beirut streets filled with sirens of buzzing trucks, buses, and cars, all brought to life almost in 3D in the cinema hall as the audience almost breathlessly follows the family on a quest to relise themselves. The cast from the young Omar Sharif look-alike son, the melancholic elder sister, and an amazing cast of side roles, they all emphasise the hopes and dreams of the young generation in this time in Lebanon.

ABOUT FILM
Arzé (2024) is a Lebanese comedy-drama directed by Mira Shaib, following a single mother and her son as they navigate life’s challenges in Beirut. The film explores family dynamics and societal struggles, featuring compelling performances and a powerful narrative.

CAST & CREDITS
Director: Mira Shaib
Writer: Louay Khraish, Faissal Sam Shaib
Cast: Diamand Abou Abboud, Betty Taoutel, Bilal Al Hamwi
Dop: Heyjin Jun
Producer: Faissal Sam Shaib, Louay Khraish, Zeina Badran, Ali Elarabi

MIRA SHAIB
Mira Shaib is a Lebanese director of the feature film Arzé (2024) and the short films “Lilacs” and “Diaspora.” She is an alumnus of prestigious film development labs and residencies, including Robert Bosch Stiftung, Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, Film Independent’s Global Media Makers LA  Residency, the Red Sea Lodge, and the Torino Film Lab. Mira Shaib earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television from the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut and a Master of Fine Arts in Cinematic Arts from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Mira co-founded Cinema For All, an arts initiative with a mission to make cinema accessible in rural Lebanon. Her first feature film, Arzé, was selected to be in the official selections for the Cairo International Film Festival, Beijing International Film Festival, and Tribeca Festival. Mira is working on her second feature film.