I often get asked why I decided to start an Arabic film festival in Dublin: my main goal was to give a voice to the Arab Filmmakers especially Arab women and Moroccan Filmmakers working in Film . But again , I remember my Irish friend Aidan telling me about something he saw happen in Dublin that really upset him. He saw two teenage Muslim boys walking along by the River Liffey one Saturday afternoon dressed in traditional clothes He told me that it was a sunny day and there was a large group of local teens jumping off the Macken street bridge into the river.
As the two Muslims passed by, the Irish teens stopped what they were doing and started shouting "here come the terrorists".
He told me it reminded him of the first time he visited the UK as a young man in his 20's. and how he was made feel by security that he had to prove he wasn't an Irish terrorist. This was back in the 80's.
He told me how upset he was that Irish people, in his city, were now doing this to Arabs who were just going about their business.
But he joked that at least young Irish males were no longer in the spot light.
This story upset me and it got me thinking about the industry I work in and how it feeds the stereotype image of Arab actors as terrorists and Arab women as submissive women . I spoke to Jim Sheridan to see if we could do anything to show Arab in a different way.
Jim was excited about the idea of starting an Arab Film Festival and he agreed to get involved. Immediately, Joe Geoghegan Honorary Consul of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan came on board and the rest, as they say, is history
The large attendance during the festival quickly dispelled any doubts that there was an interest in Arabic cinema in Dublin and thanks to wide ranging international media coverage.
The Festival showcased many films made by Arab Female Filmmakers such as :
Wadjda, the first feature film made by a female Saudi director, was written and directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. Movies by Lebanese Film Director Nadine Labaki such as Caramel and Capernaum, Producer Khadija Alami and other Films by other Arab Filmmakers
The aim of the festival is to provide a realistic perspective on Arab people, culture, art, history and politics. The festival will continue to serve as an important platform for Arab filmmakers especially Arab women in Film to reach out to a wider international audience.
Zhara Moufid
Filmmaker/Founder
As the two Muslims passed by, the Irish teens stopped what they were doing and started shouting "here come the terrorists".
He told me it reminded him of the first time he visited the UK as a young man in his 20's. and how he was made feel by security that he had to prove he wasn't an Irish terrorist. This was back in the 80's.
He told me how upset he was that Irish people, in his city, were now doing this to Arabs who were just going about their business.
But he joked that at least young Irish males were no longer in the spot light.
This story upset me and it got me thinking about the industry I work in and how it feeds the stereotype image of Arab actors as terrorists and Arab women as submissive women . I spoke to Jim Sheridan to see if we could do anything to show Arab in a different way.
Jim was excited about the idea of starting an Arab Film Festival and he agreed to get involved. Immediately, Joe Geoghegan Honorary Consul of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan came on board and the rest, as they say, is history
The large attendance during the festival quickly dispelled any doubts that there was an interest in Arabic cinema in Dublin and thanks to wide ranging international media coverage.
The Festival showcased many films made by Arab Female Filmmakers such as :
Wadjda, the first feature film made by a female Saudi director, was written and directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. Movies by Lebanese Film Director Nadine Labaki such as Caramel and Capernaum, Producer Khadija Alami and other Films by other Arab Filmmakers
The aim of the festival is to provide a realistic perspective on Arab people, culture, art, history and politics. The festival will continue to serve as an important platform for Arab filmmakers especially Arab women in Film to reach out to a wider international audience.
Zhara Moufid
Filmmaker/Founder