17th Annual Middle East Film Festival
This message has been approved by Zafer Lababidi, interim director of the Middle East Center, for distribution to students, faculty and staff.
Florida State University's Middle East Center and Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics
Florida State University's Middle East Center, and Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, is hosting the 17th annual Middle East Film Festival. This festival showcases films that offer unique insights into international cinema and perspectives rarely seen in mainstream media.
Sponsored by the FSU Middle East Center and the Student Life Cinema, the festival features four films screened on four Thursdays, from January 29th to February 19th.
With a rich history in Tallahassee, the festival has become a central event for the Middle East Center's outreach at both the university and community levels. Florida State University is committed to providing students and faculty with meaningful international engagement opportunities and to fostering a multicultural campus environment. These goals are essential to the university's broader academic mission.
Below is a list of the films and their countries of origin:
1. Jan. 29: It Was Just an Accident (Iran, 2025) 6 PM
A mechanic named Vahid suspects a customer is the former torturer who once blinded him. After kidnapping him, Vahid gathers other victims to verify his identity, sparking a profound moral debate about vengeance versus justice.
*Following the screening, there will be an opening ceremony with a reception catered by the Sweet Shop.
2. Feb. 5: Nezouh (Syria, 2022) 6 PM
After a missile destroys her home, 14-year-old Zeina discovers newfound freedom, first love, and a desire to leave, despite her father’s refusal to become a refugee. The film employs magic realism to explore themes of hope, survival, and female empowerment amid conflict.
*Panel discussion and Q&A after the film.
3. Feb. 12: Ali Zaoua (Morocco, 2000) 6 PM
A gritty story about four homeless boys in Casablanca who leave a street gang. When their leader, Ali, is killed by a rival gang, his friends Kwita, Omar, and Boubker strive to give him a respectful, dignified burial.
3. Feb. 19: The Nightingale's Prayer (Egypt, 1959) 6 PM
Based on Taha Hussein's novel, this classic Egyptian film follows Amna, who seeks revenge against the engineer who seduced and caused her sister Hanadi's death. Amna becomes his maid with plans to kill him but falls in love instead, creating a tragic conflict between vengeance and love.
*After the film, there will be a closing ceremony featuring complimentary Middle Eastern desserts and tea.
All events are open to the public and free.