Rotterdam Arab Film Festival to Honour Umm Kulthum in 2025 Edition
May 23, 2025
The Rotterdam Arab Film Festival is set to celebrate its 25th edition from May 28th to June 1st with a special tribute to Umm Kulthum, one of the Arab world's most influential cultural figures. This year's programme falls under the theme 'Year of Women', placing a spotlight on women's contributions to Arab cinema—past and present.
As part of the tribute, the festival will honour Umm Kulthum's enduring artistic legacy through film and conversation, recognising her as a pioneering figure whose work transcended music to shape the cultural imagination of the region.
This edition will feature over 37 films and will be judged by a predominantly female jury of directors, producers, editors and actors. Among the prominent names taking part are Syrian actress Amal Arafa, Egyptian star Salwa Mohamed Ali, Saudi actress Fatima AlBanawi, and Saudi director-producer Razan Al-Sagheer.
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