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The 17th annual Middle East Film Festival at FSU kicks off Thursday, Jan. 29. (FSU College of Arts and Sciences) \t\t<\/p>\n\t\tThe 17th annual Middle East Film Festival at FSU kicks off Thursday, Jan. 29. (FSU College of Arts and Sciences) \t\t<\/p>\n
Florida State University\u2019s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics<\/a> and the FSU Middle East Center (MEC)<\/a> will host the 17th annual Middle East Film Festival, offering new perspectives into international cinema and amplifying culture rarely seen in mainstream media<\/p>\n The festival, co-sponsored by MEC and the FSU Student Life Cinema (SLC), will feature a film screening every Thursday over the next four weeks beginning Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Askew Student Life Center on FSU\u2019s Tallahassee campus (942 Learning Way). All films screen at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public. \u00a0<\/p>\n Jan. 29: \u201cIt Was Just an Accident\u201d (Iran), directed by Jafar Panahi\u00a0 \u201cThe festival has a wonderful way of spreading cultural awareness and encouraging global understanding right here on campus,\u201d said Zafer Lababidi, interim MEC director, Middle Eastern Studies program adviser, and Arabic Language House faculty. \u201cIt beautifully brings students, faculty and residents of Tallahassee together to share in a vibrant arts experience.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n For the past 17 years, the festival has played a crucial role in promoting international programs and education at FSU while also expanding knowledge of the Middle East in the FSU community. Lababidi, in his first year leading the event, hopes the festival will broaden how the Middle East is understood and offer new perspectives of the region outside of mainstream media.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFilms serve as cultural mirrors, focusing on personal stories that transcend political soundbites and media stereotypes,\u201d Lababidi said. \u201cThese narratives highlight individuals instead of abstractions, helping the audience gain a more detailed understanding of the Middle East and North Africa. The festival reminds audiences of the significance of global artistic exchange and\u202fdemonstrates\u202fhow similar cinematic techniques are used in\u202fdifferent cultures\u202fand across the Middle East region.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Prior to the first film, \u201cIt Was Just an Accident,\u201d guests are invited to the festival\u2019s kickoff ceremony at the SLC on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 5:30 p.m., where representatives from FSU student organizations will showcase their activities and work pertaining to the festival. After the film concludes, there will be a reception featuring Middle Eastern food provided by the Sweet Shop Caf\u00e9 and Lounge where attendees can enjoy discussions about the film.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The celebration continues as additional gatherings follow screenings throughout the festival. After the screening of the second film, \u201cNezouh,\u201d guests are invited to attend a panel featuring FSU professors specializing in Middle Eastern studies, including Celia Reddick, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and Jessika Valentine, a teaching faculty member in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. \u00a0<\/p>\n After the final screening, \u201cThe Nightingale\u2019s Prayer,\u201d the festival will conclude with a closing-night event at the SLC where Middle Eastern desserts and tea will be served.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI encourage everyone to enjoy engaging in meaningful conversations about the films afterward, which can lead to a deeper understanding of the stories and regions explored through cinema,\u201d Lababidi said. \u201cWe hope every guest leaves with a fresh perspective of the Middle East.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nFeb. 5: \u201cNezouh\u201d (Syria), directed by Soudade Kaadan\u00a0
\nFeb. 12: \u201cAli Zaoua\u201d (Egypt), directed by Henry Barakat\u00a0
\nFeb. 19: \u201cThe Nightingale\u2019s Prayer\u201d (Morocco), directed by Nabil Ayouch\u00a0<\/p>\n