SWANA displaces the terminologies of Middle Eastern, Near Eastern, Arab World or Islamic World that have colonial, Eurocentric, and Orientalist origins.
We use SWANA to acknowledge the diversity and complexities of our communities.”
Can you introduce yourself and your festival?
My name Is Hajer and I am an Iraqi-Australian writer and creative.
The SWANA Film Festival is a SWANA Film Festival will be an epic 3-day festival showcasing over 20 films spanning across Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Armenia, and Syria!
When and where is the film festival?
28-30 April 2023. At Riverside Theatres Parramatta
How are the films in your festival relatable to the diverse multicultural community in Sydney and in Australia?
We will be showcasing over 20 films from South West Asia and North Africa, spanning across Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Armenia, and Syria! The festival is proud to be representing five language groups across the festival.
What are the highlights of your film festival?
We will be having an opening Night Gala with food and DJ. We will be screening two Australian premieres, Baghdad in My Shadow, our opening night film, and Love, Spells and All That, our Saturday night film. Our Saturday matinee screening is dedicated to all Australian SWANA Films, including a live Q&A with the filmmakers. 2 of our feature films are Queer SWANA films. We have 5 different languages represented across the program. We are having a special Sunday brunch and screening of four short videos produced by the Refugee Art Project.
We offer three ticketing options:
All Access Passes for $80
3-session Pass for $60
Single session pass $28.50
What important themes does your film festival explore?
We are emphasising joy and healing from primarily gender-diverse and female perspectives of the SWANA community.
The recent French Film Festival featured a generous 54 films in their lineup. Out of this eclectic collection, I am recommending 23 of them as the best of the lot.
Filmed in grainy 16mm, Lim Lung Yin’s OHONG VILLAGE is a modern-day retelling of a disconnected and discontented filial relationship in a small ebbing fishing village. The decision to use film gives this drama a vintage quality to it that is Euro-style reflective and melancholic.
