Join us for short children’s films and theater games with Algerian actor Mohammed Yabdri. Play fun theatre games that work with the actor's body, voice, and imagination in English and Arabic.
1001 Days
This kid-friendly, animated short tells the story of Scheherazade, the famed heroine of 1001 Nights, whose stories saved the women in her village each night from the fury of their king. Updating this timeless tale, new filmmaker Al-Jaidah’s version includes a child protagonist, who falls in love with Scheherazade as she discovers her incredible generosity.
Director: Aisha Al-Jaidah | Animation | Runtime: 12 mins | 2017 | Country: Qatar | Language: Arabic, English Subtitles | Minnesota Premiere
Festivals and Awards:
Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2018
Cannes Film Festival, France, 2018
Special Jury Prize, Ajyal Youth Film Festival, Qatar, 2018
Director: Aisha Ibrahim Al-Jaidah has worked as a motion graphics artist and a senior animation producer at Al-Jazeera Children’s Channel, creating the first animated children’s series created by a Qatari local in Doha. Al-Jaidah received a scholarship to study animation from Kingston University London, an achievement that motivated her to launch her own production company, Blue Penguin Animation.
Memory of a Fish
A light-hearted story of sibling rivalry, this films depicts a young Palestinian boy with an unreliable memory. Unfazed by his fleeting thoughts, Sami quickly learns that life is similar to his short-term memory and that nothing is permanent.
Director: Yousef Salhi | Narrative | Runtime: 6 mins | 2017 | Country: Palestine | Language: Arabic, English Subtitles | Minnesota Premiere
Festivals and Awards:
Haifa Independent International Film Festival, Palestine, 2017
Tripoli International Film Festival, Lebanon, 2017
Director: Yousef Salhi was born in 1992 and studied audiovisual media at Al-Quds University. In 2014, Salhi established an initiative called “We Have a Cinema Now” in Jerusalem to produce short films and host filmmaking workshops. He also works with various community-based organizations to produce short documentaries.
Sponsors
TWIN CITIES ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
Mizna presents the thirteenth Twin Cities Arab Film Festival in partnership with the Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul. The Arab Film Fest showcases modern Arab cinema, featuring debut screenings of independent narrative, documentary, and experimental features and shorts.