- 12
- Nov.
- 2024
For its 13th edition, the Franco-Arab Film Festival of Noisy-le-Sec (FFFA), which will take place from November 15 to 30, 2024, in Paris, offers an exploration of Franco-Arab cinematic creation, focusing on migration, exile, and Arab culture in all its forms. Through numerous screenings, discussions, exhibitions, and concerts, the festival will highlight works that promote cultural exchange and interaction.
The Franco-Arab Film Festival of Noisy-le-Sec (FFFA), held in Île-de-France, returns for its 13th edition from November 15 to 30. This year, the festival will take place both in Noisy-le-Sec and Paris, with part of the program dedicated to Gaza, featuring a special day of screenings, discussions, and short films that delve into the complex challenges faced by the region. Additionally, the Institut des Cultures d'Islam (ICI) will host a program focusing on exile and migration, examining the experiences of migrants and exiles as seen through the eyes of Arab filmmakers.
A highlight of the festival, the short film competition, will take place on Sunday, November 24, at the Trianon. The audience will be invited to vote for their favorite film among seven selected works. Awards will be presented, including the Prix des lycéens, granted by students from Liberté and Olympe de Gouges high schools, and the Prix des jeunes ambassadeurs from Cinémas 93, which provides special promotion for the winner across partner cinema networks. The Prix du jury winner will also be invited to present their film at the Franco-Arab Rendez-vous in Amman in 2025.
The festival will feature a carefully curated selection of contemporary films that redefine Franco-Arab relations, alongside a special selection of genre films, including Franco-Arab science fiction and fantasy. Screenings will be enriched with director discussions and an outreach program to broaden access to the festival’s offerings.
Multidisciplinary and Off-Site Programming
The FFFA will extend beyond the Trianon cinema with a varied lineup including concerts, exhibitions, dance performances, and workshops. Among the festival’s diverse program, audiences can enjoy an Arabo-Andalusian music concert by the young ensemble El Mawsili on November 27 at the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory. Additionally, on November 29, Egyptian singer Hend ElRawy and her quartet Mazalda, accompanied by the Berber choir of Bagnolet, will perform at the Théâtre des Bergeries. Traditional electro musician Nidhal Yahyaoui will also give a live performance.
The exhibition Rwama - My Childhood in Algeria by Algerian illustrator Salim Zerrouki will be presented at the Trianon Cinema and Micro-Folie in Noisy-le-Sec from November 16 to 30. Through his debut graphic novel, Zerrouki shares memories of his childhood in 1980s and 1990s Algeria, evoking the cultural and political diversity of the era. The exhibition opening will be held on November 15 at 7 p.m. at the Trianon Cinema, where Zerrouki will sign copies of his book. The bookstore Les Pipelettes from Romainville will also have a stand with graphic novels and comics from Arab countries and the diaspora.
On November 24, Salim Zerrouki will lead a workshop at Micro-Folie, introducing the public to comic strip creation, followed by a live drawing performance set to a soundtrack inspired by Algeria in the 1990s. Concurrently, the Trianon Cinema will present Maman, a performance blending dance and music that explores the relationship between a mother, born in Kabylia, and her daughter, born in France.
Syrian-Palestinian artist Maryam Samaan will offer a collaborative creation workshop, Tricot d'âmes, on November 30, where participants can forge intercultural and intergenerational bonds through knitting. Since 2015, this project has involved over 400 people, crafting a collective piece from recycled personal garments.
Other FFFA Highlights
The festival also supports community and educational initiatives, including an immersion experience for Yazan Tarawneh, winner of the Jordanian film pitch, who will benefit from professional meetings to support his film project, Searching for Fareed.
A cinema career discovery workshop will be offered to RSA (social welfare) recipients in Seine-Saint-Denis, providing a unique experience and the chance to acquire skills while discovering the inner workings of a film festival.
Finally, the festival will have a culinary aspect, adding a flavorful touch to the program. From November 18 to 22, SIPLARC (the Intercommunal Syndicate for Collective Meal Production and Delivery) chefs will serve menus inspired by Arab flavors in schools and senior residences in Noisy-le-Sec and Bondy.
With its rich and diverse programming, the 13th Franco-Arab Film Festival of Noisy-le-Sec invites audiences to a unique immersion into a vibrant array of cinematic and artistic experiences, celebrating the dialogue between two worlds and two cultures.
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