Priority area: Culture and Arts
Country location: Australia
Grantee: Information and Cultural Exchange Inc

The Arab Film Festival Australia (AFFA) is a unique and major Arab-Australian cultural event produced/presented annually in Parramatta, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth between July and August. Produced by Information and Cultural Exchange (I.C.E.) since 2001, AFFA aims to address the contemporary reality and frequent misrepresentation of Arab peoples and cultures by reflecting the complexity, diversity and dynamism of the Arab experience through film.

The Festival also showcases the work of emerging Arab-Australian screen producers, thereby supporting pathways for them to develop relationships, secure professional opportunities and engage with distributors, producers and broadcasters.

Each year AFFA encompasses an interstate tour, forums, international guest speakers, local and international films, and an education program in schools and universities. The Arab film industry is flourishing and international agencies, festivals and platforms are competing to screen films from the region. AFFA provides Australia's only platform to present and promote these films to Australian audiences, both Arab and non-Arab Australian. It also plays an important role as a bridge connecting the Arab and Australian film industries.

AFFA is guided by a community-based Organising Committee and delivered in collaboration with a range of partners, cultural institutions, arts venues, cinemas, secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

Key dates

• VIP Pre-Screening Party, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, 20 July 2017 to 20 July 2017
• Sydney Screenings, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, 21 July 2017 to 23 July 2017
• Sydney Q&A/forum event, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, 23 July 2017 to 23 July 2017
• Melbourne Screenings, Cinema Nova, Carlton, 03 August 2017 to 06 August 2017
• Canberra Screenings, National Film and Sound Archive Australia, 17 August 2017 to 18 August 2017
• Perth Screenings (Curtin University), Curtin University, Perth, 15 September 2017 to 15 September 2017
• Secondary Education Program screenings/workshops, Western Sydney, Southern Sydney, Northern Sydney and Eastern Sydney high schools, 19 September 2017 to 21 November 2017

Social media:

• AFFA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arabfilmfestivalaustralia/
• AFFA Twitter: https://twitter.com/arabfilmfestau
• Website: http://arabfilmfestival.com.au

Council for Australian-Arab Relations grant offer: $55,000.00 GST inclusive

Total project value: $159,000.00