The Arab American National Museum proudly hosts its annual Arab Film Festival (AFF), featuring fascinating new titles from one of the most prolific and creative set of filmmakers on the planet. AFF is one of the Museum’s longest-running programs, dating back to its inception in 2005.

AFF showcases Arab and Arab American films for fans of Arabic-language movies and adventurous art-film lovers seeking new perspectives and outside-the-box thinking. Many of these films by both Arab World and Arab American artists are, with few exceptions, unlikely to reach traditional American commercial theaters. Genres include drama, comedy and documentary, in both short-form and feature lengths. Every festival film is subtitled in English, making them accessible to all.

The Arab Film Festival strives to bring you the absolute best films from the Arab world and Arab American community to the doorstep of metro Detroit, with many films making their Michigan and/or U.S. debut. We pride ourselves on creating a safe space, a platform for Arab and Arab American films and filmmakers and to give a voice to Arab and Arab American artists and their stories.

AANM's 2023 Arab Film Festival will take place in-person and virtually on May 17-21, 2023.