MENA Film Festival 2026 — Closing Celebration
Theater De Vaillant, The Hague | 28 June 2026, 14:00–22:00
More than 80 people attended the closing celebration throughout the day. A highlight was an in-depth discussion on how racism manifests in the Middle East and North Africa and how cinema can challenge it. For more than half an hour, audience members exchanged views with filmmakers, including Fatima Zahra Oubaha, who travelled from Morocco at the festival’s invitation. The programme also featured a screening of Behind the Door, attended by its lead actor, Jamal Amin.
Workshops
Theatre director Fares Al-Mashta led a workshop on theatre performance. Photographer Othman Al-Saeed led a photography workshop that drew more than 25 participants.
Music, art and tributes
The programme featured live music by Masoud Jahed and Rik van Boeckel, and an art exhibition by Amina Al-Maghribi. Iraqi musician and joza player Mohammad Gomar received the festival’s Music Achievement Award and performed during the celebration. The festival also paid tribute to Iraqi novelist Jamal Haider.
Top film award
The Best Narrative Short Film award went to Just Like Robin Williams.
