“Concrete Land” and “in memory of” Win Silver Doves at DOK Leipzig 2026

DOK Leipzig 2026 | Films exploring Palestine, war, migration and exile were among the winners of the 69th DOK Leipzig.

Nov 1 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

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October 2026

The Children and the Barracks: Mila Zhluktenko and Daniel Asadi Faezi on Waking Up in Silence

DOK Leipzig 2026 | The filmmakers revisit their documentary about Ukrainian children living in a former German military barracks, discussing the…

Oct 31 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

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A Fire There: Migration and the Loneliness of Wandering Armenians | Film Review

Film Review | Alexander Ovanessian examines Armenian identity, migration and belonging through Marlene Edoyan’s A Fire There, set in an Armenian village…

Oct 25 • Alexander Ovanessian

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DOK Leipzig 2026: Films from Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus

Souzian Dispatch Coverage | Leipzig, 26 October - 1 November 2026 | Documentary, animation and XR works connected to the Middle East, North Africa…

Oct 23 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

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September 2026

Babylon Animation Cinema Festival Returns for Sixth Edition With 37 Films

Babylon, Iraq, 11-12 October 2026 | The independent animation festival brings together films from across the region and beyond, with jury members from…

Sep 26 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

Inheraitable Voyeurism: A Critical Reading of Asghar Farhadi's Parallel Tales

Film Criticism | Pouya Aghelizadeh looks at voyeurism, storytelling, trauma, and the uneasy boundary between fiction and reality in Asghar Farhadi's…

Sep 22 • Pouya Aghelizadeh

August 2026

Amir Azizi on Inside Amir, Tehran and the Difficulty of Leaving

Golden Apricot 2026 | Amir Azizi discusses Inside Amir, its portrait of Tehran, migration, love and independent filmmaking after the film's awards in…

Aug 31 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

MENA at TIFF 2026: Films From Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Türkiye and Beyond

Toronto, 10-20 September 2026 | Films connected to Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Türkiye, Iraq and Egypt lead a wider MENA presence across TIFF's 51st…

Aug 13 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

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An Incomplete Calendar Follows Oil Through Politics, Art and Music

Golden Apricot 2026 | Sanaz Sohrabi’s first documentary feature begins with a little-known Venezuelan record and moves through OPEC, cultural…

Aug 6 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

What Migration Leaves Behind: Firouzeh Khosrovani and Morteza Ahmadvand on Past Future Continuous

Golden Apricot 2026 | Firouzeh Khosrovani and Morteza Ahmadvand speak about family, distance and creating a presence through absence in Past Future…

Aug 1 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

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July 2026

Venice 2026 Brings MENA Voices Across Its Official Lineup

Venice, 2-12 September 2026 | Films linked to Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Georgia and the wider region appear across Competition, Orizzonti, Venezia…

Jul 29 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

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Magma Turns Family Memory Into A Search For Algeria’s Hidden History

Sheffield, June 2026 | Mia Bendrimia's Grand Jury Award-winning first feature begins with a private search for family history and finds Algeria's past…

Jul 28 • Abbas Souzian [Film Festival]

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