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Co-presented by the Arab American National Museum
This is a selection of short films originally programmed for the 27th Arab Film Festival in 2023. While they were originally meant to reside in separate programs with different themes, together as one program they still compliment each other well, exploring stories of diasporic Arab life across the United States and Canada. Each filmmaker's individual approach to this topic and their unique styles each bring something different to the table.
An unseen Arab-American narrator obsesses over the relentless glow of a street lamp outside his bedroom window. His frustration and sleeplessness reveal a longing for connection and the complexities of second generation American identity.
About the Filmmakers:
Lily & Ahmed are a married independent filmmaking duo based in Pittsburgh, PA. Lily – American, Russian, and Armenian – grew up between Washington, D.C., and Cairo, Egypt. Ahmed – Egyptian, Dutch, and American – was born and raised in Cairo. Their work emphasizes identity and place, highlighting feminism, cultural dislocation, and domestic relationships. Their films are noted for their use of voiceover narration and mixed media. Their work has screened at festivals around the world including Arab Film & Media Institute’s Arab Film Festival and Uppsala Short Film Festival (where they were nominated for the Ingmar Bergman Award). Together they founded the production company Studio Ragheb.
- Year2023
- Runtime4 minutes
- LanguageArabic, English
- CountryUnited States
- GenreExperimental
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorLily Ekimian Ragheb, Ahmed T Ragheb
- ScreenwriterAhmed T Ragheb, Lily Ekimian
- ProducerLily Ekimian Ragheb, Ahmed T Ragheb
- CastAhmed T Ragheb
Co-presented by the Arab American National Museum
This is a selection of short films originally programmed for the 27th Arab Film Festival in 2023. While they were originally meant to reside in separate programs with different themes, together as one program they still compliment each other well, exploring stories of diasporic Arab life across the United States and Canada. Each filmmaker's individual approach to this topic and their unique styles each bring something different to the table.
An unseen Arab-American narrator obsesses over the relentless glow of a street lamp outside his bedroom window. His frustration and sleeplessness reveal a longing for connection and the complexities of second generation American identity.
About the Filmmakers:
Lily & Ahmed are a married independent filmmaking duo based in Pittsburgh, PA. Lily – American, Russian, and Armenian – grew up between Washington, D.C., and Cairo, Egypt. Ahmed – Egyptian, Dutch, and American – was born and raised in Cairo. Their work emphasizes identity and place, highlighting feminism, cultural dislocation, and domestic relationships. Their films are noted for their use of voiceover narration and mixed media. Their work has screened at festivals around the world including Arab Film & Media Institute’s Arab Film Festival and Uppsala Short Film Festival (where they were nominated for the Ingmar Bergman Award). Together they founded the production company Studio Ragheb.
- Year2023
- Runtime4 minutes
- LanguageArabic, English
- CountryUnited States
- GenreExperimental
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorLily Ekimian Ragheb, Ahmed T Ragheb
- ScreenwriterAhmed T Ragheb, Lily Ekimian
- ProducerLily Ekimian Ragheb, Ahmed T Ragheb
- CastAhmed T Ragheb