The 15th edition of ALFILM, boasting over 7000 visitors, marked its most successful year to date.
The 15th edition of ALFILM showcased a diverse programme featuring 50 films from 13 countries across the Arab World, along with a special Spotlight titled “Here and Elsewhere: Palestine in Arab Cinema and Beyond.” The festival, held in seven venues across Berlin, provided a platform for open solidarity with Palestine and constructive dialogue among its Berlin-based audience, as well as Arab and European guests.
The festival’s lineup included not only films but also concerts, live performances, master classes, and discussion rounds, creating an atmosphere of empowerment and solidarity. The collective engagement of the audience, coupled with each screening and event, underscored the importance of providing spaces where filmmakers, artists, and cultural actors can freely express themselves without fear of cancellation or censorship.
Jay Weissberg, film critic and Artistic Director of the Pordenone Silent Film Festival, said: “ALFILM provided a safe space and an atmosphere of solidarity sorely needed in these difficult times. Everyone I came in contact with felt it and was energized. You gave all of us hope (…), you refreshed our spirits, and you reminded us that enabling artists to express themselves freely is not a luxury in wartime but a necessity. Because it charges our shared humanity. Because art itself is an act of defiance. And no matter how often history repeats itself, we need to cling to the belief that when an artist creates something that challenges and moves us, it makes us better people.”
Sonia Ben Slama, director of ‘MACHTAT’, added: “This ALFILM edition was much needed, both by the audience and by us, the filmmakers. Sometimes, we lose sight of the purpose behind showcasing our films in festivals, but at ALFILM, it felt essential again. These voices need to exist and be heard in the public space, and you made that possible. Your work is courageous and we cannot thank you enough for it.”
In continuation of its mission to keep the question of Palestine alive in German public discourse, ALFILM plans to host numerous screenings and collaborations in the coming months and throughout the year.
