MEDIA RELEASE

6 March 2008

From the 10th - 13th April Parramatta Riverside Theatres will host the 2008 Sydney Arab Film Festival.

The 2008 program presents a collection of the latest features, short films and documentaries that sparkle with the rich and beautiful complexity of Arab cultural and political life. From a sleepy small town in Tunisia to the war torn streets of Iraq the Sydney Arab Film Festival offers 4 days of exceptionally diverse stories of love, loss and luminosity.

The Festival program opens with an Australian premier in 35mm of a beautiful award winning feature from Lebanon called Caramel. Between haircuts and sugar waxing with caramel, five women in a Beirut beauty salon, share their intimate and liberated experiences that revolve around men, sex and motherhood.

Both local and internationally produced documentaries include thought provoking perspectives from Lebanon and Palestine as well as the first uncensored feature film in over a decade to come out of Iraq. Both the Lebanese and Palestinian sessions will be followed by forums and discussions with the filmmakers and guest speakers. And for lovers of the spiritual Suffi dance a feature film direct from Egypt, a country celebrating 80 years of filmmaking “the Hollywood on the Nile”.

This years Festival offers a remarkable contrast of both macro and micro perspectives of Arab culture looking at both the big picture conflicts and concerns as well as telling very personal stories.

SAFF provides an opportunity for all Australian audiences to engage with real stories that reflect the complexity and diversity of Arab experiences, perspectives and insights that don’t often get seen or screened in mainstream media or cinema. Mouna Zaylah Co-Festival Director

We are proud to share with you stories of love, loss and luminosity inviting Australian audiences to connect with Arab communities from around the world. Arab filmmakers are experimenting more with genres, fusing doco style filmmaking and dramatic narratives. Fadia Abboud, Festival Co-Director.

The Festival runs from Thursday 10th April until Sunday 13th at the Parramatta Riverside Theatres and is managed by the Granville based Information and Cultural Exchange.

For further information, images and opportunities for interviews please contact Sarah Goodes, Publicist on 0411 878 250 or email sarah.goodes@ice.org.au