FSU Middle East Center presents 14th annual film festival Feb. 10 through March 9
糖心vlog鈥檚 and the will host the 14th annual Middle East Film Festival, which showcases films providing insight into international cinema and perspectives rarely seen in mainstream media, Feb. 10 through March 9.
The festival is co-sponsored by the FSU Middle East Center and the and features four films screening over four weekends this spring. Films screen at 6 p.m. in the SLC:
鈥 Feb. 10, 鈥淎rab Blues鈥 (Tunisia), directed by Manele Labidi
鈥 Feb. 19, 鈥淔oragers鈥 (Palestine), directed by Jumana Manna
鈥 Feb. 26, 鈥淭he Breadwinner鈥 (Afghanistan), directed by Nora Twomey
鈥 March 9, 鈥1982鈥 (Lebanon), Q-and-A session with director and FSU alumnus Oualid Mouaness to follow.
鈥淭he festival is a condensed and highly informative occasion for our FSU students and the wider community to learn about this diverse, cultured and fascinating region of the world,鈥 said Zeina Schlenoff, director of the Middle East Center. 鈥淚t also allows Middle Eastern students at FSU to share their culture with their American friends and to shed light on a very ancient and complex collection of societies.鈥
Schlenoff has led the festival since its inception in 2009 and is excited about the festival鈥檚 continually growing role in the community.
鈥淲e started really small, and with time, the festival became an important fixture of the center and community's activities,鈥 Schlenoff said.
Participants are invited to the festival鈥檚 kickoff celebration 5:15-6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at the SLC. During this time, eight Middle East student organizations will table to showcase their organizations and programs. The first film screening, 鈥淎rab Blues,鈥 will be followed by a reception featuring Middle Eastern food catered by the Sweet Shop and entertainment provided by the and the 鈥檚 .
The film festival鈥檚 prestigious and lengthy history in Tallahassee has made it an important part of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics鈥 annual outreach initiatives within both the university and the wider community. FSU鈥檚 commitment to providing meaningful international engagement opportunities for students and faculty, as well as nurturing a rich, multicultural environment on campus, is a key component of the university鈥檚 overall academic success.
鈥淚t is a pleasure to again support the Middle East Film Festival,鈥 said Sam Huckaba, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淭his popular event adds value to our academic mission and serves as a window into other cultures.鈥
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit or the center鈥檚 .