The screening of Mayor is part of the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival’s Arabesque programme at museum FENIX, and will be shown on Saturday 31 May – a day dedicated to productions from and about Palestine. The screening starts at 15:00, admission is free, no reservations required.
Mayor, ’89, David Osit, 2020
How important can a mayor be to a city? Musa Hadid is the Christian mayor of Ramallah in the West Bank, the de facto capital of Palestine. He is charming, funny and friendly, and does what he can to make the lives of his citizens as good and dignified as possible. However, due to the Israeli occupation, he cannot provide many basic services. We see how one day he is turning on the Christmas lights, but the next day he has to hide in a besieged city hall. Mayor is an inspiring but also painful view of an occupied city from the inside, especially with the knowledge of today.
'Extraordinary, infuriating and heartbreaking.'
– The Washington Post
About the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival
The Rotterdam Arab Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary edition this year, taking place from May 28 to June 1. The festival presents a diverse program of films, music, and cultural activities from the Arab region across various locations in Rotterdam, including De Doelen, LantarenVenster, and the Fenix Museum.
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of Arab cinema, featuring films by both established names and emerging talent. In addition to film screenings, there will be live performances, inspiring talks, masterclasses, and a cultural experience that brings together art, music, films, and the culinary traditions of the MENA region.
The festival also offers the opportunity to meet major stars from the Arab film and arts world. With its varied offering of film, art, and music, the festival promises to be an unforgettable experience where tradition and innovation go hand in hand.
About Arabesque
From 30 May to 1 June, the FENIX Museum in Rotterdam play host to Arabesque – a new, freely accessible cultural experience centred on Morocco. Visitors can immerse themselves in a rich programme full of short films, live music, performances and culinary traditions.