Editor

Hollywood Arab Film Festival (HAFF) inaugural edition of the festival is scheduled from 27-30 April 2022 at Universal AMC Cinema at CityWalk, Hollywood.  

HAFF marks the celebration of the Arab Heritage Month. It is founded by a non-profit organization with the aim of bringing Arab cinema to the heart of Hollywood City. The festival provides Arab filmmakers with the opportunity to gather and showcase their work to their Western peers and to directly interact with Western audience.  

This year’s edition is named after the Egyptian film director Daoud Abdel Sayed. Our jury panels include renowned names in the Arab film industry including film director Khairy Beshara. 

We received over 500 submissions of films from 56 countries worldwide and we are screening a carefully curated list of award-winning Arab movies including “Souad” film for Ayten Amin, “Extracurricular” for Amr Salama, “Tambour of Retribution” for Abdulaziz Al-Shlahei and “Neighbors” for Mano Khalil. 

The inaugural edition is a hybrid version, consisting of a virtual part taking place on the 25^th and 26^th of April, and a physical part that starts with Opening Night on the 27^th of April. We are also hosting a discussion panel for Middle Eastern and Hollywood producers in participation of renowned producers Lila Yacoub (Lady Bird, C'mon C'mon, The Report), Mike Gabrawy (Independance Day, Stargate, Resident Evil, Hotel Mumbai, Jungle), Meshari Almutawa (Khalid Ibn El Waleed series, How I Got There), Faisal Baltyuor (The Tambour of Retribution) and Shahinaz Elakkad ( Lagoonie Film) 

We are also hosting an acting masterclass presented by founder of Asminah Omar Arab and acting coach Rafik El-Rihany.