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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.
Tensions rise at home when Salma's family braces for a visit from Lebanese relatives. After not having seen them in over 20 years, her mother and teta return to Middle Eastern traditions in order to impress. However, as a high school senior struggling with her own identity, Salma must choose between being the daughter her mother wants to present to them, and being herself.
About the Filmmaker:
Lara Bedewi is a first-generation Arab American writer, director, and multimedia artist from Philadelphia whose films explore vulnerability and belonging through the lens of culture, ancestry, and community. Lara is a 2021 George and Rose B. Ashe Arts Scholarship recipient and was selected as a 2022 BlackStar Film Festival official screener. She is a 2023 Cinema & Television BIPOC Filmmaker Grant awardee and recently screened her work at the Drexel University Film & Television showcase.
- Year2023
- Runtime12 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Arabic
- CountryUnited States
- GenreDrama
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorLara Bedewi
- ScreenwriterLara Bedewi
- Co-ProducerJamie Agins, Lara Bedewi, Zoe Culver, Emma Wolynez
- CastDeema Turkomani, Lara J. Barry, Randa Radwan, Fahad Ahmad, Abdullah Naser
- CinematographerDylan Lepre
- EditorJulia DeFusco
- MusicWilliam Michael
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.
Tensions rise at home when Salma's family braces for a visit from Lebanese relatives. After not having seen them in over 20 years, her mother and teta return to Middle Eastern traditions in order to impress. However, as a high school senior struggling with her own identity, Salma must choose between being the daughter her mother wants to present to them, and being herself.
About the Filmmaker:
Lara Bedewi is a first-generation Arab American writer, director, and multimedia artist from Philadelphia whose films explore vulnerability and belonging through the lens of culture, ancestry, and community. Lara is a 2021 George and Rose B. Ashe Arts Scholarship recipient and was selected as a 2022 BlackStar Film Festival official screener. She is a 2023 Cinema & Television BIPOC Filmmaker Grant awardee and recently screened her work at the Drexel University Film & Television showcase.
- Year2023
- Runtime12 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Arabic
- CountryUnited States
- GenreDrama
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorLara Bedewi
- ScreenwriterLara Bedewi
- Co-ProducerJamie Agins, Lara Bedewi, Zoe Culver, Emma Wolynez
- CastDeema Turkomani, Lara J. Barry, Randa Radwan, Fahad Ahmad, Abdullah Naser
- CinematographerDylan Lepre
- EditorJulia DeFusco
- MusicWilliam Michael