Rotterdam Arab Film Festival poster
The festival will feature a special programme titled Faces of Syria, exploring themes of identity, diaspora, and resilience.
Syrian artist Jamal Suleiman will also be honored for his outstanding artistic career.
The festival’s opening on 10 July will feature Chronicles from the Siege by Palestinian-Syrian filmmaker and activist Abdallah Al Khatib.
Al-Khatib's body of work explores siege, displacement, and everyday survival in conflict zones, as he focuses both inspired by his experiences in the Yarmouk refugee camp of Damascus.
He first gained international recognition with the documentary Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege (2021) which had its world premiere at the Visions du Réel in Switzerland and then screened at numerous festivals including Cannes’ ACID segment.
His latest feature, Chronicles from the Siege, premiered at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Best First Feature Award.
before making his fiction-feature debut with Chronicles from the Siege, which won the GWFF Best First Feature Award at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival.
Honouring Egyptian artists
Several Egyptian stars of Arab cinema are set to participate in RAFF’s wide-ranging programme.
Among them is renowned actress Lebleba, whose career spans more than six decades across film, television, and theatre.
One of Egyptian cinema’s most enduring stars, Lebleba rose to prominence as a child performer before becoming a leading actress known for her versatility in both comedy and drama, working with major directors such as Youssef Chahine and Anwar Wagdi.
Her performances in films like Al-Karnak and Against the Government have cemented her status as a key figure in Arab cinema.
Another prominent Egyptian figure set to be featured at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival is Khaled Youssef, who will head the feature film jury and be honored for his body of work addressing pressing political and social issues.
A leading voice in contemporary Egyptian cinema, Youssef is known for films such as Hena Maysara (2007), Dokkan Shehata (Shehata's Shop, 2009), which explore class divisions, corruption, and the struggles of marginalized communities.
His work often combines melodrama with sharp political commentary, positioning him as one of the most outspoken filmmakers of his generation.
More from the Arab World
Beyond Egypt and Syria, the list of honorees includes Tunisian artist Lamine Nahdi, often referred to as the Adel Imam of Tunisia.
The feature competition will showcase a screening of the film Sophia by Tunisian director and star Dhafer L’Abidine. Palestinian cinema will be highlighted through a full day of screenings on 12 July.
The festival will conclude on 14 July with the awards ceremony, followed by a concert by the Tarab Choir, a creative body that consists of musicians and artists from across the Netherlands. The choir will perform songs from Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt.
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