The Showroom presents a spring screening series curated by The Arab Film Club and Ifriqiya Cinema. In dialogue with Mandy El Sayegh’s Mural: This is a Sign: Notes on Assembly, the programme brings together films by Arab artists and filmmakers working across geographies and diasporas.

In this first event in the series, The Arab Film Club curates a programme of short films written and starring its own members, with themes including gender inequality, challenges of working in the Arab film industry, social media and Palestine, and the war in Gaza.

After the four films, there will be a Q&A on stage with actress/writer Ibbi El Hani (Hysteria), actress/writer Nadia Nadif (Notification), writer Khalil Hefaf (Aksil) and actress Sofia Asir (Hind Under Siege).

Hysteria (2024)
Written by Ibbi El Hani. Directed by Miriam Carlsen. 19 min
When Houda is found unconscious on the bathroom floor, will she finally be taken seriously?

Aksil (2023)
Written by Seif Borin and Khalil Hefaf. Directed by Werner Vivier. 16 min
In pursuit of his passion, an aspiring British-Moroccan actor risks ostracism from his family and community after starring in a film with a sex scene.

Notification (2022)
Written by Nadia Nadif. Directed by Tamer Akeil. 11 min
In a world more globally connected than ever, this psychological drama explores where a couple’s social media consumption - and world views - differ drastically.

Hind Under Siege (2024)
Written by Aida Amercani. Directed by Naji Salameh. 24 min
Trapped under fire, 6-year-old Hind makes a final call to the Palestinian Red Crescent. A live-action based on true events.

About the programme
Spanning four events in the Church Street neighbourhood, the series invites audiences to engage with questions of representation, displacement, political witnessing, and the politics of visibility through shared viewing and discussion.

About The Arab Film Club
The Arab Film Club is a London-based, community-led platform that curates and screens contemporary and classic cinema from across the Arab world and its diaspora. Founded by actress and curator Sarah Agha, the club brings together audiences, artists, and filmmakers to explore Arab cinema as a space for shared reflection, cultural memory, and political storytelling. They curate and run screenings, Q&As, and public events, hosted across major cultural venues in the UK.