Arab American National Museum’s Arab Film Festival Returns for Its 21st Year, May 5–10, 2026

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43-Film Hybrid Festival Features Official Academy Award Submissions from Palestine and Jordan, Plus the First Iraqi Film to Compete at Cannes

DEARBORN, Mich. — The Arab American National Museum (AANM) announces the return of the Arab Film Festival (AFF), one of the most significant showcases of Arab and Arab American cinema in the United States. Now in its 21st year, the festival runs May 5–10, 2026, in a hybrid format, available both in person in theaters across Metro Detroit and online to audiences worldwide.

This year’s theme, Remember. (Re)imagine., reflects the festival’s ongoing commitment to honoring memory, challenging dominant narratives, and envisioning new futures through the power of film. The 2026 program spans 43 films — drama, comedy, and documentary, in both short and feature formats — many of which make their Michigan and/or U.S. debut at AFF. Select titles will be available to stream virtually; all films are subtitled in English, making the festival fully accessible to audiences of any language background.

“Arab and Arab American stories are chronically underrepresented in mainstream American media and film distribution,” said AANM Director, Diana Abouali, PhD. “AFF directly addresses that gap. For Arab and Arab American communities, seeing your own stories, history, and lived experiences reflected on screen is powerful and affirming. This festival is one of the few spaces in the United States where that reflection exists at that scale.”

Award-Recognized Films in the 2026 Lineup

This year’s program includes films that have earned recognition on the world’s most prestigious stages:

• Palestine 36 — Palestine’s official submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.
• All That’s Left of You — Jordan’s official submission to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.
• The President’s Cake — The first Iraqi film ever to compete at the Cannes Film Festival, and an Oscar shortlist selection.

21 Years of Arab and Arab American Storytelling

Founded in 2005, the same year AANM opened its doors, the Arab Film Festival has been foundational to the Museum’s cultural programming identity from the very beginning. Over two decades, AFF has served as a vital platform for Arab and Arab American filmmakers whose work has not historically found a home in mainstream American commercial cinema.

Tickets and the full in-person and virtual screening schedules, including information on each film, can be found on the AFF website https://aanmfilmfest26.eventive.org/welcome.