Get your popcorn ready! It is that time of year again, when one happily turns to the big silver screen for the celebration of the newest and most exciting films sourced from across the globe, and presented to a London audience. It is of course the BFI London Film Festival 2019!
Taking place 2-13 October in cinema venues across the capital, this year there will be in total 345 films (including features, shorts and documentaries), with much to explore, discover and to simply enjoy. Categorised as always under Strands, I searched the comprehensive programme to identify the films relevant to the MENA region.
Of this year’s selection, BFI Curator for MENA Elhum Shakerifar said to Nahla Ink:
“I am delighted that this year sees a notable number of Arab films in the LFF programme, particularly because two thirds of these are are by first and second time filmmakers – directors whose bold, distinctive and boundary pushing cinema are set to make significant waves.
“I look forward to seeing London audiences meeting such brilliant talents, on screen and for many in person through the many Q+As that will run throughout the festival”.
Without further ado, here they are listed, with the BFI blurbs provided.
For the link to the BFI website and tickets, just tap or click on the images provided for each film.
The Cave (Syria-Denmark)
Oscar-nominated Feras Fayyad’s (Last Men in Aleppo) essential film tells the harrowing story of an underground Syrian hospital and its extraordinary staff.
Showing: Monday 07 October 2019 18:00
BFI Southbank, NFT1
Showing: Tuesday 08 October 2019 17:50
Vue West End, Screen 6
More information and tickets:
The Perfect Candidate (Saudi Arabia-Germany)
Celebrated Saudi director Haifaa Al Mansour (Wadjda, LFF 2012) returns to the Festival with an inspiring drama about a young doctor unexpectedly becoming an electoral candidate.
Showing: Monday 07 October 2019 20:30
Vue West End, Screen 7
Showing: Monday 07 October 2019 21:00
Vue West End, Screen 5
Showing; Tuesday 08 October 2019 12:30
Vue West End, Screen 7
Showing; Tuesday 08 October 2019 13:00
Vue West End, Screen 5
Scales (Saudi Arabia-UAE- Iraq)
The story of a fishing village in thrall to mysterious sea creatures makes for a spellbinding feature debut from Shahad Ameen.
Showing: Wednesday 09 October 2019 18:30
Curzon Soho Cinema, Screen 1
Showing: Thursday 10 October 2019 13:00
ICA Cinema, Screen 1
Showing: Saturday 12 October 2019 18:45
Prince Charles Cinema, Downstairs ScreenBottom of Form
Noura’s Dream (Tunisia-Belgium-France-Qatar)
Directed by Hinde Boujemaa: Noura and Lassad’s delicate love story turns into a nightmare when Noura’s husband Sofiane is unexpectedly released from prison, days before their divorce is finalised.
Showing: Friday 04 October 2019 20:45
ICA Cinema, Screen 1
Showing: Monday 07 October 2019 18:15
Vue West End, Screen 4
A Son (Tunisia-France-Lebanon-Qatar)
Challenging your emotions at every turn, Mehdi M Barsaoui’s debut is a riveting ride in which the euphoria of a family trip quickly turns into a nightmare.
Showing; Saturday 05 October 2019 15:30
Empire Haymarket, Screen 1
Showing: Sunday 06 October 2019 18:00
Cine Lumiere
Arab Blues (France):
Directed by Manele Labidi Labbé. In this provocative culture clash comedy, Golshifteh Farahani (About Elly, Paterson) plays a Parisian psychoanalyst attempting to set up a practice in a post-Arab Spring Tunis.
Showing: Sunday 06 October 2019 12:30
Vue West End, Screen 4
It Must Be Heaven (Palestine-France-Qatar-Germany-Canada-Turkey)
Acclaimed Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman returns with another deadpan take on life in exile, typically assured and moving.
Showing: Wednesday 09 October 2019 18:15
Curzon Mayfair Cinema, Screen 1
Showing: Thursday 10 October 2019 18:00
Curzon Soho Cinema, Screen 1
The Unknown Saint (Morocco-France)
Alaa Eddine Aljem’s darkly comic feature debut is smart, refreshing, original and an astute reflection on the human need to believe in something.
Showing: Friday 04 October 2019 15:20
BFI Southbank, NFT2
Tlamess (Tunisia)
Ala Eddine Slim’s mesmerising second feature is as bold in its audio-visual wonder as it is audacious in its challenge to conventional narratives.
Showing: Wednesday 09 October 2019 20:35
BFI Southbank, NFT3
Showing: Friday 11 October 2019 15:00
ICA Cinema, Screen 1
Talking About Trees (Sudan)
Directed by Suhaib Gasmelbari. A beautifully shot feature debut, winner of the Berlinale Best Documentary Award, that couldn’t be timelier for Sudan.
Showing: Tuesday 08 October 2019 20:45
ICA Cinema, Screen 1
Showing; Wednesday 09 October 2019 15:40
BFI Southbank, NFT2
White Girl (Palestine)
Directed by British-Palestinian Omar El-Khairy, this short film will be screened as part of the ‘When You Think You Know How It Ends’ segment.
Sold Out!
Mother of Fire (UAE)
Directed by Farah Al Qasimi, this short film will be screened as part of the ‘New World Order’ segment. A confessional TV documentary, it follows an ancient Jinn called ‘Mother of Fire’ and her ruminations on the history of the UAE, colonial meddling and contemporary Eurocentric museum display practice.
In Vitro (Palestine-UK-Denmark)
Another short film, directed by Larissa Sansour. Decades after an eco-disaster engulfs the biblical city of Bethlehem, two scientists from different generations discuss memory, exile and nostalgia in this symbolic speculative fiction. This will be screened as part of the ‘New World Order’ shorts programme.
Sold Out!
