Film Forum

ArteEast is a leading non-profit organization advocating for and supporting artists from the South West Asia North Africa (SWANA) region and its diaspora, engaging with New York, U.S. and international audiences and arts communities.  Independently and through strategic partnerships, ArteEast delivers in-person and virtual programs such as film screenings, exhibitions, cultural events, and online publications. These serve as a bridge that amplify the voices of, and facilitate the interaction of the public with artists, filmmakers, curators, and thought leaders rooted to the SWANA region and its diaspora.

Amjad Al Rasheed, born in 1985, is a Jordanian director and writer who holds an MFA in Cinematic Arts, specializing in Directing and Editing. His debut feature film, INSHALLAH A BOY, had its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, as part of the prestigious La Semaine de la Critique. This marked it as the first Jordanian film ever to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival. It further garnered recognition by winning the Gan Foundation Award. Following its Cannes premiere, INSHALLAH A BOY was also featured in numerous international film festivals, including TIFF, the Busan International Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival, and the AFI Fest, among others. In 2016, Al Rasheed was recognized by Screen International as one of five "Arab Stars of Tomorrow," shining a spotlight on talents from the region. Prior to this, Amjad was invited to participate in the Talent Campus during the 57th Berlinale, after which he directed three short films that received acclaim at multiple Arab and international film festivals.

Hind Shoufani is a Palestinian filmmaker, writer & poet for the past 25 years. Recently, she won a BAFTA & an Oscar nomination for the film “The Present” & her latest documentary, “Heavy Metal”, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023. Her first feature film TRIP ALONG EXODUS screened in over 30 countries. She is a Fulbright scholar from Jordan, with an MFA in film from The Tisch School Of The Arts at New York University. Hind has won awards for her personal & professional achievements, helmed commercial projects for corporate & NGO clients, & influenced the literary cultural scene in the SWANA region through events, mentorship & publications. She has published creative essays, prose & poetry in numerous international journals, magazines & anthologies.

Supported by a Humanities New York Action Grant

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