From Gaza to Kabul, the Middle East takes the stage in Florence

The 16th edition of the Middle East Now festival is underway in Florence, running until October 12 across Cinema La Compagnia, Cinema Astra, and several other city venues. This year, the festival also opens the 50 Giorni di Cinema a Firenze showcase, marking the start of a rich autumn season of international film events.

With 34 films and documentaries from across the Middle East — from Morocco to Afghanistan — the program offers a wide-ranging exploration of contemporary life and creativity in the region. Screenings are accompanied by talks, performances, photography exhibitions, food events, and encounters with more than 30 filmmakers and artists visiting Florence. A selection of titles is also available for streaming in partnership with MyMovies.

The 2025 theme, “Radical Imagination,” focuses on the transformative power of images and the ability of art to propose new visions of the world. Through cinema, visual arts, and discussion, the festival aims to challenge stereotypes and rethink how the Middle East is represented, highlighting stories of resilience, creativity, and everyday humanity.

The opening night on October 7 featured Synesthesia, a live performance by Lebanese artist and graphic novelist Mazen Kerbaj, followed by the documentary Yalla Parkour (Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Sweden, 2024) by Areeb Zuaiter — a powerful look at life in Gaza before the war, through the perspective of young parkour enthusiasts.

The closing night, on October 12, will present Kabul Between Prayers by Aboozar Amini, a personal journey through Afghanistan seen “with a Talib,” exploring contradictions between faith, fear, and the desire to live.

Among this year’s special projects is “Beirut, Recurring Dream,” the first solo exhibition in Italy by Lebanese photographer Tanya Traboulsi, curated by Roï Saade and on view from October 9 to 29 at SRISA Gallery. Also joining the festival is celebrated Palestinian chef Sami Tamimi, who will present his latest book and host a cooking demonstration inspired by Middle Eastern traditions.

Organized by the cultural association Map of Creation under the artistic direction of Lisa Chiari and Roberto Ruta, Middle East Now is supported by Fondazione Sistema Toscana for Regione Toscana, Comune di Firenze, Fondazione CR Firenze, and Unicoop Firenze, with additional support from Gruppo Why the Best Hotels Firenze, Fondazione Niels Stensen, MyMovies, Ponte33, and others.

More information, full program, and online screenings are available at the Middle Eat Now website.

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