Best of Fest Encore Screening

An abandoned villa’s elderly caretaker fights the intrusions of modern Egypt in 19B. His story highlights the changes taking place in contemporary Egypt as characters of different social strata struggle to find their place. Winner, Best Arab Film, Best Cinematography and the International Critics’ Prize, Cairo Film Festival. –Alissa Simon

An ambitious, haunting attempt to use genre filmmaking to reflect on the recent history of Tunisia, Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation features a tenacious female investigator in a mystery thriller involving a burned body that blends police procedural tropes with disquieting elements of allegorical horror. – Alissa Simon

The closeted homosexuality of a married tailor who falls for his apprentice in the medina of Salé makes for daring content; daring because same-sex sexual relationships are illegal in Morocco. This sensitive, humanist drama captured a critics’ award at Cannes as well as numerous audience awards during its festival travels.–Alissa Simon 

Tired of the corrupt politicians driving Uganda into the ground, pop star Robert Kyagulanyi, Bobi Wine to his millions of adoring fans, makes a daring run for president in directors Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp’s rousing documentary. 

Best of Fest Encore Screening

After his well-received feature debut Lynn + Lucy, Fyzal Boulifa, a UK director of Moroccan heritage, combines melodrama, neo-realism and sexual frankness to compelling effect in the story of a single mother and her teen son on the fringes of society. Winner, New Voices New Visions, Palm Springs Film Festival –Alissa Simon

Gazi “Dusty” Simelane and Linda “Stones” Msibi are a Country Western duo known as Dusty & Stones hailing from an unlikely place, the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). They get their big break to come to Nashville to record and compete in a Texas battle of the bands. It’s a dream come true, until they’re confronted with some harsh realities. 

From Mounia Meddour, the director of the international, Cesar-award-winning Papicha (2019) comes Houria, featuring an astonishing performance from Lyna Khoudri as a dancer who must fight a devastating injury to join Algeria’s National Ballet.  

José Miguel Ribeiro’s stunning feature-length animated film examines the Angolan Civil War through the lives of three generations of women, and embraces reality and mysticism.