The Launch 2011

A message from the LMFF Festival Director - 24.10.2011

Dear All,

The London MENA Film Festival launch will forever be etched into our consciousness – it was quite a journey – from the celebratory laughter of Screen a Smile and the energy of FeMENA to the delightful and poignant Rise of Gulf Cinema to the enlightenment of our Legends series – the LMFF launch was a wonderful expedition indeed.

Over the four nights we were struck by the sheer diversity of the audience and the outcome of a basic equation: art + platform + a magnificent audience = a unique and progressive setting.

Acknowledgements:

Film makers Ahmed Ahmed for Just like Us, Khalid Mahmoud for Sabeel, Nujoom Al Ghanem for Hamama, Sally El Hosaini for Henna Nights, Mariam Al Serkal for London in a head scarf and last but not least Mohammed Khan (In the Heliopolis Flat) and Nadim Sawalha for being legends.

Launch partners Saint Ethelburga’s, SOAS, London Middle East Institute, Middle East Association, London Oasis School of Arabic, SOAS Khaleej Society and MOMO Resto. Presenters Tania Diggory, Hermoine Macura, Aiysha Hart and Nabil Elouahabil. Special thanks to Roisin Malski, Gareth Evans, Najaad Ali, Stephen Harriott, Azza Al Qaseer and all the LMFF volunteers.

But most importantly a monumental thank you to all whom attended, supporting the LMFF project.

So we go on to the next chapter the inaugural London MENA Film Festival – November 2012. You can find out more info on the site and our social media pages, so please spread the word and support the project – on behalf of the LMFF team thank you and see you soon.

Yours Sincerely,

Yasmin El Derby

Festival Director