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Preview: Safar festival of popular Arab cinema at the ICA, London
LEN PHELAN reports on a film festival aiming to challenge preconceptions of the Arab world

We’re all about showing that the stereotypes of the Arab world still there in the minds of non-Arabs don’t demonstrate the humour, romance and overarching talent coming from the Middle East,” says Noreen Abu Oun.

She’s one of the guiding lights behind Safar, the festival of popular Arab cinema backed by the Arab British Centre which opens at the ICA in London on September 19.

There’ll be screenings of 13 films — among them six British premieres — director and actor Q&As, discussions on how films are facing up to issues in the Arab world and an exhibition of film memorabilia, Whose Gaze Is It Anyway? 


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