Aflamuna Connection's 10th Edition: Showcasing Arab Filmmakers and Stories of Resilience
Aflamuna Connection has announced the lineup for its 10th edition, featuring 18 projects from various Arab countries. The selection includes fiction and documentary films from Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Somalia, Morocco, and Syria. The fiction projects focus on character-driven stories, while the documentaries tackle political themes such as war, displacement, identity, and social change.
Egyptian filmmaker Morad Mostafa, known for his debut film Aisha Can’t Fly Away, will present his second feature, Animals, a horror-infused story about a young man haunted by a crime involving his twin brother. Another highlight is Songs From The City Of The Dead, the debut feature of Egyptian filmmaker Abdelwahab Shawky, which explores themes of censorship and identity.
One of the selected projects is Accept My Plea For Burial, a Somalia-Djibouti co-production directed by Mohammed Sheikh, marking the first Somali project at Aflamuna Connection. The event aims to support filmmakers from underrepresented countries and help them navigate the industry, raise financing, and connect with international networks.
The 10th edition of Aflamuna Connection will take place online from June 24-26, offering opportunities for filmmakers to engage with over 150 industry professionals through meetings, consultancy sessions, and masterclasses. The lineup includes documentaries like +477 Night by Aisha Adly and A City Without Doors - When Life Stirs by Eyad Aljaroud, as well as fiction films like The Hearse To The Final House Of Happiness by Wisam Al Jafari.
According to Aflamuna Connection manager Myriam Sassine, Arab filmmakers are facing challenges due to instability, war, and censorship, making it harder for them to secure funding and sustain themselves financially. The platform aims to support and encourage filmmakers to continue their creative work despite these obstacles.
Since its inception, Aflamuna Connection has become a vital platform for Arab independent cinema, helping projects gain international visibility and funding. The event's collaboration with Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival provides opportunities for selected projects to pitch to European co-production partners, further expanding their reach and potential for success.