Aleya | علية | Bundle: Self Care | 2026 MENA Film Festival

Available in 45d 20h 12m 13s

Available January 15, 2026 8:00 AM UTC

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This one’s for the baddies, pioneers and survivors, who understand that self care is not just a consumer act, but sometimes a dedicated practice of overcoming. These films explore what it means to truly be comfortable with oneself as we face adversity from outside and within. MENA staff describe this bundle as powerful.

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ACCESS THE FULL 2026 MENA FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL PROGRAM WITH AN ONLINE PASS!

EARLY BIRD (Until Dec 1) – $10

GENERAL ADMISSION – $15

SUPPORTER – $20

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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 tickets@menafilmfestival.com to provide an alternative means of accessing our programming. No questions asked.

An intimate close-up on Aleya, a trans woman who has recently moved from Cairo to germany right after her transition. This portrait marks her first year as a woman, having to cope with the loss of loved ones, family disownment, hormonal and psychological turmoil. She shares intimate stories, anecdotes and poems that document her transition.

Year
2024
Runtime
10 minutes
Language
Arabic
Country
Egypt, Germany
Genre
Drama
Social Media

Director
Omar Abogabal

4 films in package

Aleya | علية

After her transition, a trans woman from Cairo rebuilds her life in Berlin while navigating family rejection, profound loss, and the psychological turbulence of becoming herself.

Ezda

A Yazidi survivor of ISIS’s genocide recounts her experiences under nearly three years of captivity, and attempts to come to terms with her trauma while forging a new path for herself and her children in Canada.

Fariha | فَرِيحَة

When Fariha, a 70-year-old singer from Yemen, meets young filmmaker Badr, the two embark on a journey to relaunch Fariha's long-lost singing career.

I Told You So | قلتلك

An intimate first-person exploration of navigating life and love with chronic pain, while battling dismissive doctors, a skeptical mother, and that relentless inner voice telling you that it's all in your head.