Florida State University’s Middle East Center set to host 17th annual Middle East Film Festival

Florida State University’s Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics and the FSU Middle East Center (MEC) will host the 17th annual Middle East Film Festival, offering new perspectives into international cinema and amplifying culture rarely seen in mainstream media.

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’s Tallahassee campus (942 Learning Way). All films screen at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

• Jan. 29: “It Was Just an Accident” (Iran), directed by Jafar Panahi
• Feb. 5: “Nezouh” (Syria), directed by Soudade Kaadan
• Feb. 12: “Ali Zaoua” (Egypt), directed by Henry Barakat
• Feb. 19: “The Nightingale’s Prayer” (Morocco), directed by Nabil Ayouch 

“The festival has a wonderful way of spreading cultural awareness and encouraging global understanding right here on campus,” said Zafer Lababidi, interim MEC director, Middle Eastern Studies program adviser, and Arabic Language House faculty. “It beautifully brings students, faculty and residents of Tallahassee together to share in a vibrant arts experience.”

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.

“Films serve as cultural mirrors, focusing on personal stories that transcend political soundbites and media stereotypes,” Lababidi said. “These 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 demonstrates how similar cinematic techniques are used in different cultures and across the Middle East region.”

Prior to the first film, “It Was Just an Accident,” guests are invited to the festival’s 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 Café and Lounge where attendees can enjoy discussions about the film.

The celebration continues as additional gatherings follow screenings throughout the festival. After the screening of the second film, “Nezouh,” 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.

After the final screening, “The Nightingale’s Prayer,” the festival will conclude with a closing-night event at the SLC where Middle Eastern desserts and tea will be served.

“I 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,” Lababidi said. “We hope every guest leaves with a fresh perspective of the Middle East.”

For more information about this year’s film festival, visit mec.fsu.edu.