10th
2027 · Upcoming
10th edition · The Hague
The tenth edition. Dates, programme and venue will be announced soon.
Organised byMesopotamia Foundation
VenueThe Hague
Dates2027
Films—
Archive · 2018 – 2027
Nineeditions, and counting
From a first weekend at Laaktheater to an annual festival presented by the Mesopotamia Foundation.
1st
23–25 MARCH 2018
Laaktheater
Laaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
2nd
2019
Laaktheater
Laaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
3rd
2020
Laaktheater
Laaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
4th
2021
Laaktheater
Laaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
5th
2022
The Hague
Mohammad Al-Amin
6th
2023
The Hague
Mohammad Al-Amin
7th
2024
The Hague
Stichting Mesopotamië
8th
APRIL 2025
Theater De Vaillant
Stichting Mesopotamië
9th
25–28 JUNE 2026
The Hague
Mesopotamia Foundation
Upcoming
View edition →
10th
2027
The Hague
Mesopotamia Foundation
9th
25–28 JUNE 2026
9th edition · The Hague
The ninth edition was dedicated entirely to short fiction and documentary from across the region, presented by the Mesopotamia Foundation.
Organised byMesopotamia Foundation
VenueThe Hague
Dates25–28 June 2026
Films6 in selection
Available
Bezza’s Tattoo
Fatima Zahra Oubaha · Morocco
Film details →Available
Code Rouge
Rachida Chbani · Morocco
Film details →Available
Transit
Baqer Al-Rubaie · Iraq
Film details →Available
Displaced
Declan Cassidy · Ireland
Film details →Available
Pyramid
Mohamed Ghazala · Egypt
Film details →Available
The Descendants
Yaser Talebi · Iran
Film details →8th
APRIL 2025
8th edition · Theater De Vaillant
Features included Pyramid (Mohamed Ghazala), The Descendants (Yaser Talebi) and Silent Glory (Nahid Hassanzadeh). The top honour went to an Iranian film. An anti-racism art workshop ran on 5–6 April.
Organised byStichting Mesopotamië
VenueTheater De Vaillant
DatesApril 2025
Films—
7th
2024
7th edition · The Hague
First edition organised entirely by Stichting Mesopotamië, founded by Mohammad Al-Amin.
Organised byStichting Mesopotamië
VenueThe Hague
Dates2024
Films—
6th
2023
6th edition · The Hague
Organised personally by Mohammad Al-Amin after the festival rights were transferred from Laaktheater.
Organised byMohammad Al-Amin
VenueThe Hague
Dates2023
Films—
5th
2022
5th edition · The Hague
First independently organised edition.
Organised byMohammad Al-Amin
VenueThe Hague
Dates2022
Films—
4th
2021
4th edition · Laaktheater
Final edition in partnership with Laaktheater.
Organised byLaaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
VenueLaaktheater
Dates2021
Films—
3rd
2020
3rd edition · Laaktheater
Third edition in partnership with Laaktheater, The Hague.
Organised byLaaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
VenueLaaktheater
Dates2020
Films—
2nd
2019
2nd edition · Laaktheater
Second edition in partnership with Laaktheater, The Hague.
Organised byLaaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
VenueLaaktheater
Dates2019
Films—
1st
23–25 MARCH 2018
1st edition · Laaktheater
The festival was born at Laaktheater with Mohammad Al-Amin as artistic director and programmer.
Organised byLaaktheater & Mohammad Al-Amin
VenueLaaktheater
Dates23–25 March 2018
Films—
What they said
Voices from the festival
“A festival that gives a stage to voices we rarely hear in Dutch cinemas.”
Visitor · 8th edition“Warm, personal, and curated with real knowledge of the region’s cinema.”
Filmmaker · 7th edition“The conversations after the screenings are as valuable as the films.”
Critic · 6th edition