The HAFF is taking place in Hollywood Universal Studio Cinema, LA from 26 to 29 April, as part of the celebration of the Arab Heritage Month, held every year in April.

The festival is showcasing a number of Arab narrative, documentary and short films with dozens of renowned filmmakers are expected to attend.

From Egypt, the HAFF will host Ahmed Abdallah’s narrative 19B, Maggie Morgan’s documentary From Meir, to Meir as well as short films Oud Kabret of Maya Samer Sbahi and Kingdom of Strangers of Randa Ali, among other films in students contest.

The second edition of the HAFF is named after Egyptian director Mohamed Khan.

The multi-award-winning Beshara, 75, is one of the most important Egyptian directors from the 1990s. He established the neo-realism genre with many significant films like The Collar and the Bracelet (1986), Bitter Day, Sweet Day (1988), Ice Cream in Gleam (1992), Abracadabra America (1993), Traffic Light (1995), Crab (1990), Wild Desire (1991), Strawberry War (1993) and Nutshell (1995).

Launched in Hollywood City last year, HAFF aims to provide Arab and North African filmmakers the opportunity to gather, create and showcase their unique work in front of world cinema professionals.

The inaugural edition carried the name of renowned Egyptian film director Dawood Abdel-Sayed.