SAFAR 2024: On Hopes, Dreams, and Realities

The SAFAR Film Festival is the largest festival in the UK dedicated to cinema from the Arab world. SAFAR offers a unique space for audiences to explore and celebrate Arab cinema past, present, and future.

In 2024 SAFAR ran from 18 – 30 June with screenings in London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Hull, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford and Plymouth. Over 4500 people attended.

The festival brought together over 50 films from 15 countries including new releases, classics, family friendly screenings, archive films, special events and more.

This year’s festival theme highlighted a multitude of daily realities being faced across the Arab world and reflected on how small hopes and bigger dreams co-exist within such contexts.

SAFAR was supported by the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery, the British Council, the Bagri Foundation and the Barjeel Art Foundation.

Explore the full programme on www.safarfilmfestival.co.uk