The 13th Oran International Arab Film Festival continues in Oran, Algeria, with the second day of official competitions for feature-length fiction and documentary films. The short film competition also commenced today, adding to the excitement of the festival.
In the feature film category, cinema enthusiasts at the ‘Maghreb’ hall will view ‘Thank You for Dreaming With Us,’ directed by Laila Abbas from Palestine. This film explores the inheritance conflict between three siblings (two women and a man) following their father’s death and the substantial sum of money he left in the bank.
Also screening is the Omani film ‘Queen of Lego,’ directed by Haitham Suleiman. The film tells the story of Dhia, who lost her mother as a child and resolved to remain unattached until she meets Shehab, who could be either her savior or the destroyer of her dreams.
For documentary film aficionados at the ‘Cinematheque’ hall, ‘My Memory is Filled With Ghosts,’ directed by Anas Al-Zawahri from Syria, will be shown. This film serves as a visual elegy depicting life amidst the destruction and disfigurement that befell the city of Homs during the Syrian crisis. It explores the intersection of past and present, contemplates the future, and presents a self-portrait of a weary people striving tirelessly to reclaim their normal lives. The film delves into the city’s memory, documenting experiences of death, fear, anger, sorrow, loss, and longing.
The Egyptian documentary ‘Abu Zaabal 89,’ directed by Bassam Mortada, will also be screened. The film recounts Mortada’s personal experience as a child visiting his father, who was imprisoned in the notorious Abu Zaabal prison. It uses personal testimonies, archives, and archival footage to intertwine personal memory with the collective history of Egypt at that time.
A total of 20 films, across the feature-length fiction and documentary categories, are competing within the festival. These films are part of a larger selection of 63 films being showcased at the 13th Oran International Arab Film Festival, which continues until November 5th.
The official short film competition also opened today, further enriching the festival’s diverse program.
