# Arab and Mediterranean film festivals

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/arab-and-mediterranean-film-festivals
> Updated: 2026-10-11T06:11:08.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

In October 2026, several film festivals highlighted Arab and Mediterranean cinema. The 13th Aflam Festival in Marseille featured the Marseille Palestine Cinema Festival, which included screenings of documentary works by director Kassem Hawal. These works included ‘1973’, a tribute to Ghassan Kanafani, and ‘Palestinian Identity’, which addresses the destruction of Palestinian culture during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Beirut.

During the same period, the 37th Fameck Arab Film Festival awarded its Grand Prix to the Iraqi film ‘Irkalla, Gilgamesh’s Dream’ by Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji. Additionally, the 44th Arte Mare Mediterranean film festival in Bastia concluded, with Marta Díaz’s ‘À jamais les premières’ winning the Grand Prix. The festival also recognized the Israeli-Palestinian film ‘The Sea’ with a special mention.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-11: Film festivals award top prizes to Arab and Mediterranean cinema

Major film festivals conclude with awards for ‘Irkalla, Gilgamesh’s Dream’ at the Fameck Arab Film Festival and ‘À jamais les premières’ at the 44th Arte Mare Mediterranean film festival.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/film-festivals-award-top-prizes-to-arab-and-mediterranean-cinema

### 2026-10-05: Marseille hosts Aflam Festival featuring Palestinian cinema

The 13th Aflam Festival in Marseille will feature Palestinian cinema from October 10-18, 2026, including documentaries by Kassem Hawal regarding Palestinian identity and history.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/marseille-hosts-aflam-festival-featuring-palestinian-cinema

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Cite as: Arab and Mediterranean film festivals. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/arab-and-mediterranean-film-festivals