In honor of Pride Month, the Arab Film Series presents: Who We Are a collection of award-winning short films that highlight the experiences of Queer Arabs around the globe. Each film tells the story of a character whose desire to live authentically comes in conflict with the people and society around them. But this isn't a program dedicated simply to the struggles of the queer Arab community, but rather to the freedom and joy that can come from taking the risk and being honest with both oneself and those who love us.
Rejected by his family for his queerness and oppressed by his country for the same, reckless Libyan teenager “Britannia” gets an interview at the British Embassy, the gateway to his childhood dream of stepping into the pulsing queer world that is Manchester’s Canal Street. Being British and gay is everything he’s ever dreamed of.
And now, all he needs is one thing: his passport. And so, Britania and his found family of queers sneak back to the house he was expelled from years before to retrieve it. Plagued by terrible memories of his oppressive Baba, Britannia must fight his demons in order to escape and live his dream. However, an unexpected discovery leaves Britania with a new decision to make. Before Britannia can escape his country, he has to return to it’s home.
About the filmmakers:
Adam Ali is a British Libyan actor and director striving to celebrate queer Muslim visibility. He recently received a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for his performance as 'Zain' in the season finale of Apple TV's 'Little America'. Directed by NBC's Queer As Folk reboot director Stephen Dunn, Adam starred alongside Haaz Sleiman in the story of a Syrian refugee who dreams of being openly gay. Adam played the lead in ‘EUROPA', an Italian American feature directed by Haider Rashid that had its world premiere at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes earlier this year and has received the prestigious Proxima Award at the Milano Film Network as well as 1st prize at Cairo Film Connection.
Sam Arbor is a queer writer and director from Manchester. In 2020, his play ‘butterfly’, telling untold queer stories from across history, played at the VAULT festival (2020) to rave reviews, with The Guardian hailing it as a ‘brilliant show full of heart’. In film, he won the BFI’s ‘most promising newcomer’ award aged 16. He has been assistant to multiple BAFTA winning director Euros Lyn (Sherlock, Black Mirror, Happy Valley.), and acclaimed writer/director Shane Meadows (This is England).
- Year2021
- Runtime17 minutes
- LanguageArabic, English
- CountryUnited Kingdom
- DirectorAdam Ali, Sam Arbor
- ScreenwriterAdam Ali, Sam Arbor
- ProducerHannah Stevenson
- Executive ProducerSusan Simnett
- Co-ProducerSusan Simnett
- CastAdam Ali, Colette Dalal Tchantcho, Elysia Kozinos, Ali Gadema
- CinematographerMichael Filocamo
- EditorIzabella Curry
- Production DesignMartin Butterworth
- ComposerThomas Ross Fitzsimons
- Sound DesignInes Adriana
In honor of Pride Month, the Arab Film Series presents: Who We Are a collection of award-winning short films that highlight the experiences of Queer Arabs around the globe. Each film tells the story of a character whose desire to live authentically comes in conflict with the people and society around them. But this isn't a program dedicated simply to the struggles of the queer Arab community, but rather to the freedom and joy that can come from taking the risk and being honest with both oneself and those who love us.
Rejected by his family for his queerness and oppressed by his country for the same, reckless Libyan teenager “Britannia” gets an interview at the British Embassy, the gateway to his childhood dream of stepping into the pulsing queer world that is Manchester’s Canal Street. Being British and gay is everything he’s ever dreamed of.
And now, all he needs is one thing: his passport. And so, Britania and his found family of queers sneak back to the house he was expelled from years before to retrieve it. Plagued by terrible memories of his oppressive Baba, Britannia must fight his demons in order to escape and live his dream. However, an unexpected discovery leaves Britania with a new decision to make. Before Britannia can escape his country, he has to return to it’s home.
About the filmmakers:
Adam Ali is a British Libyan actor and director striving to celebrate queer Muslim visibility. He recently received a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for his performance as 'Zain' in the season finale of Apple TV's 'Little America'. Directed by NBC's Queer As Folk reboot director Stephen Dunn, Adam starred alongside Haaz Sleiman in the story of a Syrian refugee who dreams of being openly gay. Adam played the lead in ‘EUROPA', an Italian American feature directed by Haider Rashid that had its world premiere at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes earlier this year and has received the prestigious Proxima Award at the Milano Film Network as well as 1st prize at Cairo Film Connection.
Sam Arbor is a queer writer and director from Manchester. In 2020, his play ‘butterfly’, telling untold queer stories from across history, played at the VAULT festival (2020) to rave reviews, with The Guardian hailing it as a ‘brilliant show full of heart’. In film, he won the BFI’s ‘most promising newcomer’ award aged 16. He has been assistant to multiple BAFTA winning director Euros Lyn (Sherlock, Black Mirror, Happy Valley.), and acclaimed writer/director Shane Meadows (This is England).
- Year2021
- Runtime17 minutes
- LanguageArabic, English
- CountryUnited Kingdom
- DirectorAdam Ali, Sam Arbor
- ScreenwriterAdam Ali, Sam Arbor
- ProducerHannah Stevenson
- Executive ProducerSusan Simnett
- Co-ProducerSusan Simnett
- CastAdam Ali, Colette Dalal Tchantcho, Elysia Kozinos, Ali Gadema
- CinematographerMichael Filocamo
- EditorIzabella Curry
- Production DesignMartin Butterworth
- ComposerThomas Ross Fitzsimons
- Sound DesignInes Adriana