26th Arab Film Festival

Shorts: Queer Lens

Expired November 21, 2022 7:59 AM
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AFMI’s annual Queer Lens program celebrates the multi-dimensional formations of Arab queerness in stories that so urgently need to be told, especially in today’s polarized media climate that leaves issues of visibility lost in the haze, or, worse: cast in a one-size-fits-all “Western Queer Narrative” that ignores the many complexities and nuances faced by LGBTQ+ persons in the Arab World and beyond. 


This year’s program theme is Diaspora & Displacement and features 5 award-winning short films that highlight the experiences of Queer Arabs around the globe. The characters in these stories all find themselves at the intersection of their identities. Some must reconcile the reality of their sexuality with a family who loves but does not understand, others work towards a life lived authentically in a society that does not accept them and a few explore leaving a place that is not safe even though it means letting go of those they care about. In this collection, audiences will find stories that may be unique in their details but are deeply relatable at their core and despite the difficulties, celebrate honesty and love.


Join us after the screening for Arab + Queer + Film: between here and there a conversation with four of the filmmakers in the Queer Lens program.

A year after Beirut’s port explosion, Basma and Mariam reunite in their old bedroom. Surrounded by a view of the port’s remains, the two women attempt to resolve their shared trauma and broken relationship.


Festivals & Awards:

ROZE Filmdagen 2022

Aspen ShortsFest 2022

Inside Out 2022

HollywoodShorts Film Festival 2022


About the filmmaker:

Sarah Kaskas is a Lebanese/American filmmaker, music composer and film educator. In 2016, Sarah co-founded Karaaj Films, an independent production company which focuses on documentaries and fiction films dealing with identity and marginalized communities in Lebanon. Under Karaaj Films, Sarah has written and directed the short documentary “Bread and Tea (2016)” and the feature documentary “Underdown (2018)" - both award winning films selected at festivals such as IDFA, EIFF, DOXA and Mostra. Sarah is currently in post production for 2 films that will be released in 2021: “STRUCK” (short documentary) and “The Window” (short fiction). She resides in Beirut, developing her first feature fiction and the sophomore album for her musical project Wanderland.

  • Year
    2022
  • Runtime
    16 minutes
  • Language
    Arabic
  • Country
    Lebanon
  • Director
    Sarah Kaskas
  • Screenwriter
    Sarah Kaskas
  • Producer
    Liliane Rahal
  • Cast
    Sophia Moussa, Tamara Saade