Helsinki Arab Film Festival (HelAFF) Announces Official Programme for 2nd Edition
- Helsinki Arab Film Festival
- Aug 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 8
Helsinki – August 26, 2025
The Helsinki Arab Film Festival (HelAFF) is delighted to unveil the official programme for its 2nd edition, presenting an exciting and diverse selection of 75 films from 12 countries across the Arab world—showcasing some of the most compelling and innovative voices in contemporary Arab cinema.
This year’s programme features 6 feature-length films, 45 short films including documentaries and animations competing for awards, and 23 films presented in the Panorama section, offering audiences a broad and enriching cinematic experience.
The festival will take place from 8 to 13 September 2025 at the Korjaamo Cultural Centre in Helsinki, Finland’s vibrant capital. Korjaamo’s dynamic and creative atmosphere, equipped with a 120-seat cinema, provides the ideal venue to celebrate Arab culture and the art of filmmaking.
Leading the festival’s artistic direction is Dr Jabbar Joudi, Head of the Programming Committee. Dr Joudi is a distinguished figure within Iraqi cultural circles, serving as President of the Iraqi Artists Syndicate and Director General of the Cinema and Theatre Department at the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities.
The official competition jury will be chaired by the acclaimed Finnish documentary filmmaker Arthur Franck. The jury panel includes Mr Hekmat Al-Baidani, Head of the Baghdad International Film Festival; Mrs Caroline Al-Faraj, Vice President of CNN and Head of its Arabic Service; Juha Pekka Vaisanen, Head of the Finnish Association for Artists for Peace; Dr Nemat Batah, Professor of Music at the Sibelius Academy, Finland; and Ms Fayza Hendawi, a film critic from Egypt.
“We are honoured to welcome such distinguished personalities to our festival,” said Azer Sawiris, President of HelAFF. “Their involvement reflects the significance of this event and its profound impact here in Finland.”
The festival’s Open Call received a record number of 154 submissions from across the Arab region. After careful deliberation, 75 films were selected for screening, including 37 from Egypt, 13 from Morocco, 12 from Iraq, 3 from Tunisia, 2 each from Syria and Bahrain, and one each from the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Sudan, and Lebanon.
The Helsinki Arab Film Festival (HelAFF) was founded last year as a collaborative initiative between 1001 Steps Ry, a cultural association established in Finland in 2017, and the European Union Migrant Artists’ Network Ry (EU-MAN), which has been an active presence in the Finnish cultural scene for over a quarter of a century.
Tickets for all screenings will be available from September 1st, 2025 via lippu.fi. Attendees are encouraged to book early to experience this unique celebration of Arab storytelling and culture.
Join us for a week of captivating stories and vibrant cultural expressions at the Helsinki Arab Film Festival 2025!
For more information, please contact:
Mr Azer Sawiris
President of HelAFF
+358 40 811 3533
Mr Amir Khatib
HelAFF Artistic Director
+358 44 333 3663
