SAFAR Film Festival Celebrates Arab Cinema Across UK Cities in 2025
The SAFAR Film Festival has officially kicked off its 2025 edition across the UK, running until 28 June, offering audiences an exceptional cinematic journey through both contemporary and classic Arab storytelling. Organised by the Arab British Centre, SAFAR is the UK’s largest and longest-running festival dedicated to Arab cinema. This year, it extends its screenings beyond London to include major cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Oxford, Leeds, Plymouth, and others.
The festival opened with a dazzling screening of the Egyptian cult classic “Watch Out for Zouzou” (1972) by director Hassan Al-Imam at Ciné Lumière in London. The restored version brought to life the vibrant spirit of 1970s Cairo with its rebellious charm and musical joy.
Closing the festival is the UK premiere of the poetic and deeply reflective documentary “Sudan, Remember Us” (2024) by Hind Meddeb—an intimate lens on a Sudanese moment too powerful to forget.
Unmissable Highlights
This year’s programme is rich with standout features, spanning fiction and documentary, past and present. Notable highlights include:
- “A State of Passion” (2024) – A moving journey into Gaza through the eyes of Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah. A UK premiere that reflects both physical and emotional wounds.
- A cinematic tribute to Palestinian actor and director Mohammad Bakri, featuring his landmark documentary “Jenin, Jenin” and his new feature “Upshot”, along with a live Q&A and masterclass.
- “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” (2024) – An award-winning thriller from the Red Sea Film Festival.
- “Red Path” (2024) – A heart-wrenching story told from the perspective of a 13-year-old boy.
- “Saify” (2024) – A sharp social satire exploring issues of wealth and religion.
- “Thank You for Banking With Us!” (2024) – A dark comedy centred on family secrets and inheritance.
- “The Brink of Dreams” (2024) – A documentary following an all-female street theatre troupe challenging norms in rural Egypt.
Archival and Experimental Gems
In addition to its new releases, SAFAR offers rare and thought-provoking experiences from the archives:
- “Palestine: A Revised Narrative” – A haunting silent film reel from World War I, accompanied by live music.
- “Rooted Resistance” – A collection of short films from Lebanon exploring environmentalism and grassroots resilience.
Theme of 2025: On Dreams, Hopes and Realities
This year’s theme, “On Dreams, Hopes and Realities”, explores intersections of identity, migration, and politics from across the Arab world and its diaspora. The festival focuses on:
- Voices from both within the Arab region and global diasporas.
- Restored classics alongside cutting-edge new releases that revive cultural memory.
- Q&As and public talks featuring directors like Mohammad Bakri and Khaled Mansour.
- An environmental film strand under the title “Biodiversity and Cinema”.
SAFAR Film Festival.. Where and When?
SAFAR screenings take place in leading cinemas across the UK, including:
- Ciné Lumière, ICA, and Barbican in London
- Regional cultural hubs in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Plymouth, and more
In addition, a digital programme curated by Lebanese platform Aflamuna runs throughout June, showcasing films that reflect on post-civil war Lebanon and wider Arab realities.
In its tenth edition, SAFAR continues to solidify its place as one of Europe’s most vital platforms for Arab cinema. More than just a film festival, it is a journey of emotion, memory, and resistance, offering fresh lenses through which to reimagine stories from the Arab world—past, present, and possible.
To view the full programme and book tickets, visit the SAFAR Film Festival website here.
At Al Arab in UK (AUK), we believe SAFAR is more than a celebration of cinematic art—it is a cultural intervention. At a time when dominant narratives often silence or distort Arab realities, SAFAR serves as a powerful soft resistance, restoring dignity to voices from the region and its diaspora. Through its bold, imaginative, and honest stories, the festival creates space for engagement, empathy, and rethinking what it means to see—and be seen—in today’s world. It is a vital experience that deserves a broader audience within Britain and beyond.
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