ALFILM: The Clown of Gaza

A filmmaking feat in and of itself, The Clown of Gaza follows its titular character, short-statured clown Alloush, through his performances, as well as moments of forced displacement alongside his family and their attempts to return home. This touching film deals with resilience through the perspective of a man putting on a literal clown persona in the face of mass dispossession and settler colonial violence. 

ALFILM Festival  
 

This edition of ALFILM is the biggest one yet, featuring 60+ films across 10 venues in Berlin. ALFILM presents in its two program sections a thoughtfully curated line-up reflecting a variety of artistic approaches and political perspectives in contemporary Arab cinema.

The ALFILM Selection showcases recent productions from across the Arab-speaking region and the Arab diaspora, offering insights into current cinematic styles and thematic concerns.

The ALFILM Spotlight, titled Sudan: New Projections – Retrospectives, Revolutions, and Restorations is conceived by a guest curator, Talal Afifi, producer and director of the Sudan Film Factory. The program highlights the creative force of Sudanese filmmakers despite war and the collapse of cultural infrastructure.

Masterclasses, panel discussions, film talks, special screenings, an art exhibition entitled Sudan Retold and a party on April 24 in Festsaal Kreuzberg will once again complement the film program and invite audiences into dialogue with filmmakers, artists, and experts.

Funded by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds and the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. With the support of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung with financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Council of the Arab Ambassadors in association with the Mission of the Arab League, and the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient.