These films are love letters to the landscapes affected by western intervention, focusing on the communities that inhabit them. This program is for cinematography enthusiasts and our team describes this bundle as meditative and beautiful.&nbsp; ﻿––––– ACCESS THE FULL 2026 MENA FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL PROGRAM WITH AN <a href="https://menafilmfesitval.eventive.org/passes/buy" target="_blank">ONLINE PASS</a>! EARLY BIRD (Until Dec 1) – $10GENERAL ADMISSION – $15SUPPORTER – $20This ticket price helps cover our costs and makes it possible for us to offer reduced-price tickets to those who express need. LOW-BARRIER – $10If the regular ticket price is out of reach for you, this option is here for you. No explanation needed. INDIGENOUS – $0For self-identified Indigenous community members. Email <a href="mailto:tickets@menafilmfestival.com" target="_blank">tickets@menafilmfestival.com</a> for a discount code. No questions asked. MENA Film Festival operates under a policy of No One Turned Away for Lack of Funds (NOTAFLOF). If for whatever reason the above rates present a barrier, please contact us at <a href="mailto:tickets@menafilmfestival.com" target="_blank">tickets@menafilmfestival.com</a> to provide an alternative means of accessing our programming. No questions asked.

In the marshlands of southern Iraq, Ibrahim feels like a stranger in the world. His sole companion is his faithful buffalo. But a looming environmental catastrophe threatens the only life he knows and the one living being he truly understands.

Beneath Which Rivers Flow | ابراهيم

In the marshlands of southern Iraq, Ibrahim faces an environmental collapse that endangers his way of life and his only companion, a buffalo

As the blue sky meets the surrounding seas, the native-turned-archeologist Hassan Al-Failakawy returns to the abandoned island of Failaka, off the coast of Kuwait. Between the desolation and the different ruins of the island after the Gulf War, Hassan is met with questions about return, restitution, and belonging.

Perishable Idol

As the blue sky meets the surrounding seas, the native-turned-archeologist Hassan Al-Failakawy returns to his abandoned island of Failaka, off the coast of Kuwait, after decades of displacement.

When a Palestinian filmmaker based in Scotland unearths a rarely-seen Scottish film archive of Palestinian wild flowers, he decides to reclaim the footage. This tender essay film questions the role of image-making as a tool of both testimony and violence when connected to entanglements between people and land.

The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing

A Palestinian filmmaker reimagines a Scottish archive of Palestinian flowers.

Through poetic visual and aural fragmentation, "This Dissonance" navigates the emotional terrain of exile, colonialism, and resistance. The film weaves Palestinian and Lebanese voices with sweeping “American” landscapes, capturing the aching dissonance of witnessing U.S.-backed atrocities from afar, and resulting in a searing reflection on the generational toll of empire.

Sounds of War, ie sounds of explosions, or sounds of gunshots, Flashing images

This Dissonance

American landscapes roll ominously while Palestinian voices permeate with poetry, hope, and pain.

In war-torn northern Syria, Who Loves the Sun delves into the world of makeshift oil refineries and the stark realities of life within this post-apocalyptic landscape. Mahmood is a prominent figure in these operations, navigating harsh working conditions and complex local dynamics.

Who Loves The Sun

In war-torn northern Syria, Who Loves the Sun delves into the world of makeshift oil refineries and the stark realities of life within this post-apocalyptic landscape. Mahmood is a prominent figure in these operations, navigating harsh working conditions and complex local dynamics.

Set in a stark yet mesmerizing salt mine, Within the Sun is a poetic observational portrait of elderly female workers whose lives follow the rhythm of the seasons. Through intimate close-ups and quiet moments, the film captures the weight of their labor, the resilience etched into their bodies, and the fragile balance between solidarity and tension that binds their community. It’s a meditation on endurance, aging, and the haunting beauty of life shaped by work.

Within The Sun

In the blistering heat of a remote salt mine, six elderly women work seasonally, their hands weathered by years of labor and their resolve unshaken. Within the Sun is an observational portrait of resilience and quiet strength, offering a glimpse into the rhythm of their daily lives and how the harsh environment shapes their existence.

Bundle: Nature Lovers 

Early Bird — Virtual Admission

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MENA 2026 Film Pass — General Admission

MENA 2026 Film Pass Early Bird

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Catch the full 2026 MENA Film Festival’s Virtual streaming access with the Online Streaming Pass for just $65 ($55 before December 8, 2025!)  Explore our program below for an overview of each bundle and film! NOTE: Some films in our in-person festival program are not available virtually. Make sure to check film availability before purchasing a ticket. Please see our full program details at the link above. This year our theme is LOVE, and each feature and short reflects its many representations and how it specifically relates to the MENA/SWANA region ♥️ Don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@menafilmfestival) or Facebook (@menavancouver) and use #MENA2026 for the latest events and promotions!

The 2026 MENA Film Festival runs its program of shorts and features from the MENA/SWANA region from January 25 – February 6 across Canada!

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.