19th Arab Film Festival Opening Night

Wednesday, September 24 at 7:00 PM (SOLD OUT) & 7:30 PM (JUST ADDED)

Visiting filmmaker: Laila Abbas

ABOUT THE FILM

After learning that their father left a huge sum of money behind after his death, Mariam and Noura come up with an elaborate scheme to abscond with the money before their brother—who is legally entitled to half the inheritance—finds out that he has died. The Israeli occupation is a backdrop for this story of the everyday lives and humor of two sisters as they rekindle their relationship and learn to make space for themselves and each other. This film provides three-dimensionality to the images we see from Palestine.

Made possible by the estate of Dr. Inaam Matar

FILMMAKER BIO

Laila Abbas is a Palestinian filmmaker who studied cinema and TV production at Royal Holloway, University of London. She made her first short films between 2010 and 2012. In 2014, she directed her feature documentary Ice & Dust, which was screened at several festivals. Abbas has also worked as an academic, teaching cinema at various Palestinian universities, and she has served as the head programmer for Palestine Cinema Days for several years. Thank You for Banking with Us (2024) is her first feature narrative film.

PRESENTED BY MIZNA

Mizna is a critical platform for contemporary literature, film, art, and cultural production centering the work of Arab and Southwest Asian and North African artists. For more than 25 years, Mizna has been creating a decolonized cultural space to reflect the expansiveness of our community and to foster exchange, examine ideas, and engage audiences in meaningful art.