The San Diego Arab Film Festival 2022 launched its 11th edition on March 11 with in-person film showings at the Museum of Photographic Arts, and also online with short films.
The San Diego Arab Film Festival (SDAFF) was initiated in 2012 by KARAMA, a non-profit organization promoting understanding over issues in the MENA region.
Its 11th edition is featuring 9 movies and 12 short films from across the MENA, including two Lebanon-based films:
Farah – Friday, March 18
Directed by Kenton Oxley and Hassiba Freiha, Farah is a psychological thriller exploring mental health and family dynamics in Beirut.
The storyline starts with a pre-med student experiencing recurring nightmares. She eventually decides to see a doctor, who prescribes her the controversial antidepressant Xapa, also known as Joy. But her nightmares only worsen.
A link between her and her birth mother Farah emerges when Lina sets out to discover hidden family secrets, leading to shattering truths.
Farah first premiered at Beirut International Women Film Festival. The film is written by Hassiba Freiha, directed by Kenton Oxley, and stars Lebanese actors like Stephanie Atala, Majdi Machmouchi, Hassiba Freiha, and Youssef Boulos.
The Anger – Friday, March 25
The Anger is a psychological drama directed by Maria Ivanova and starring Manal Issa, a Lebanese-French actress, the 2015 winner of the Best Actress award for “Parisienne” at Les Arcs Film Festival.
The storyline revolves around the clash between two different cultures and religions in post-war Lebanon from the perspective of the Lebanese culture.
Manal plays the role of Ida, a young Lebanese Ida who escapes her small town and her alcoholic mother to a big city where she dates a European man.
The film is written by Olga Artemyeva with the participation of Maria Ivanova, and also starred Aurélien Chaussade, Houssam Sabbah, Julia Kassar, and Mohamad Akil.
The Anger was first screened at the Carthage Film Festival in Tunisia.
