This year's 28th edition of the Arab film festival held in San Francisco aims to tell authentic stories from the region

After pausing last year's film series due to Israel's war on Gaza, San Francisco's Arab Film Festival — the largest and oldest event of its kind in the US — returns this week, running from October 24 to November 3.

The 28th edition of the festival will open with a Palestinian film from Gaza at the Palace of Fine Arts in the city's Marina District, and close with a film from Sudan.

In addition to these two films, over 40 more films from 26 countries will be showcased in the San Francisco Bay Area, telling stories of love, loss, conflict, coming of age, and feminism — all presented through Arab lenses. There will even be a 1980s campy horror flick from Egypt screening on October 31.

Commenting on To a Land Unknown, one of the films from Gaza that will be screened, Maya Labban, managing director of the Arab Film and Media Institute, believes that although the film focuses on Palestinians, it offers themes that can resonate with different audiences due to its universal exploration of uncertainty and the struggle for a better life.

Changing narratives

According to Maya, this festival will play an important role in changing perspectives on Arabs.

"Showing movies that are coming from these areas of conflict can foster understanding. We have a lot of misrepresentation, and representation matters now more than ever," Maya tells The New Arab.

She adds, "We need to challenge these stereotypes. This is a platform where we can amplify our voices."

In light of these challenges, one way the festival organisers are tackling misrepresentation and promoting greater inclusion this year is by focusing on the LGBTQ+ community and showcasing films that highlight this topic.

While this topic can be taboo in the Middle East, addressing LGBTQ+ issues is important to the event's organisers, especially as they aim to represent a diverse range of voices from the region.

"That's one area where we don't compromise," said Serge Bakalian, executive director of the institute, regarding the festival's LGBTQ+ films. "We can't say we're being othered if we're also othering people."

Serge further commented that he wants the event to be as inclusive as possible in representing what it means to be Arab, which could include Armenians, Kurds, and those from the Arab world living outside the region.

Unusual time to hold the festival?

Some may find it unusual to hold a film festival celebrating culture during ongoing conflicts, as Israel's war on Gaza continues into its second year, alongside recent escalations in Lebanon and an 18-month civil war in Sudan.

However, the organisers believe this provides even more reason to show the world the human and nuanced side of people often depicted in a negative light. 

"My focus is to show us in an authentic light," Serge tells The New Arab.

Not wanting to engage in public relations, but rather to tell real stories, he emphasises, "I changed from saying positive to authentic."

He adds, "I want people to come away with an idea of Arab culture with all its flaws and beauty."

Reaching new audiences 

While the festival is likely to attract Arabs and those already interested in the culture, organisers believe it still has the potential to reach new audiences and open minds.

This year, several big names will be in attendance, including Ta-Nehisi Coates, who has recently spoken out in support of Palestinian human rights amid Israel's war on Gaza.

"Our mission is certainly to celebrate and empower our communities, but it's also to reach non-Arabs. That's how we create change," says Maya.

Maya also notes that the post-screening Q&A sessions with filmmakers provide an opportunity for difficult and stimulating discussions.

She says, "People are enraged, and they're seeking more answers and asking more questions. What better way of bringing people together than going to the movies?"

Further details of the festival and ticket information can be viewed here.

Brooke Anderson is The New Arab's Washington, DC correspondent