Arab cinema has an exceptional presence at the 76th Berlinale, with 15 different films being shown, including classics, jury entries, and talent programs, as well as the co-production market and its projects. These choices reflect the growing importance that filmmakers from the Middle East and North Africa have gained in recent years.
In the international competition, Tunisian director Leyla Bouzid is competing with her film "In A Whisper", the only Arab film vying for the Golden Bear. The film tackles a sensitive issue of sexual freedoms in Eastern societies through the journey of a young woman who returns from Paris to Tunisia for the funeral of her uncle, who died suddenly. There, she uncovers the unspoken secrets of her family.Meanwhile, Palestinian director Abdallah Alkhatib is competing in the Perspectives section with his film "Chronicles from the Siege". Alkhatib will also participate in a panel discussion titled "Filming Under Siege," alongside his team members Rana Eid and Talal Khoury.
Palestinian star Hiam Abbass, who also stars in "In A Whisper" and in the Lebanese director Danielle Arbid's "Only Rebels Win", which is participating in the Panorama section, will speak in a panel discussion titled "The Identity of a Voice" about her fruitful collaborations with numerous prominent Arab and international directors. "Only Rebels Win" is a compelling story about a love affair that develops between an elderly, middle-class widow of Palestinian origin and a younger, undocumented Sudanese man living in Beirut.
In the Panorama section, two other films are participating: "Safe Exit" by Egyptian director Muhamad Hammad, and the documentary "The Other Side of the Sun" by Syrian director Tawfik Sabouni, which features a group of survivors from the notorious Saydnaya prison.
In the Forum section, Lebanese director Rania Rafei presents the documentary "The Day of Wrath: Tales from Tripoli" Also screening is the documentary "Beaucoup parler", filmed in Egypt by French director Pascale Bodet , depicting the journey to obtain a residency permit.
The Berlin Special Screenings feature the American production "Who Killed Alex Odeh?" directed by Jason Osder and William Lafi Youmans (the latter of Palestinian descent). The film investigates the unsolved murder of Palestinian-American activist Skander Odeh in the United States in 1985.
The festival also presents two short films: "Someday a Child" by Lebanese director Marie-Rose Osta in the Short Film Competition, and "White" by Iraqi-Kurdish director Navroz Shaban in the Generation section.
Classic Films and Exhibition
Berlin's selections are not limited to modern films having their world premieres at the festival, but also include four classic films screened as part of its various programs.Within the Berlin Classics section, the renowned Moroccan film "Mirage", directed by Ahmed Bouanani and produced in 1979, is being shown in a restored version. Considered one of the most important films in the history of Moroccan cinema, it follows the journey of a farmer who finds a sum of money and decides to go to the city.
Within the Forum Expanded section, two short documentaries will be screened: "Sad Song of Touha" by Egyptian director Atteyat Al Abnoudi (1972) and "The Dislocation of Amber" by Sudanese director Hussein Shariffe.*
The Forum section also includes an art exhibition titled "Casting for a Film, Ihsan’s Diary", featuring works by artist Lamia Joreige. The exhibition takes place in Beirut, where actors audition for a film based on the memoirs of a soldier written in Jerusalem in 1915.
As part of the "Teddy 40" program, which celebrates the Teddy Awards dedicated to LGBTQ+ cinema, the Lebanese short film "Mondial 2010" by director Roy Dib, previously screened at the festival in 2014, will be shown.
Three jurors and eight talents
The presence of Arab-speaking filmmakers extends to the juries, with Moroccan director Sofia Alaoui serving on the Perspectives competition jury, and Syrian director Ameer Fakher Eldin is on the jury for the short film competition, while the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) jury includes Palestinian critic Saleem Albeik.In the Berlinale Talents program, eight Arabic-speaking artists were selected, the majority of whom are Egyptian. Five Egyptian talents are participating for the first time: producer Sawsan Yusuf, director Yomna Khattab, composer Mina Samy, actor Mohamed Hatem, and marketing and promotion expert Maram El Bedewy. The Arab talent pool is completed by Sudanese director Ibrahim Snoopy and actress Eiman Yousif, in addition to Syrian director Anas Zawahri.
Beyond the presence of films and individuals, the Kingdom of Morocco is a guest of honor at the European Film Market. The market highlights the Moroccan film industry, which is achieving significant successes, both in terms of the international success of Moroccan films and Morocco's emergence as a preferred filming location for many Western films.
This unprecedented presence, in its density and diversity, reflects the growing value that Arab cinema continues to attain each year, as one of the most active regions in the world in presenting new talents and interesting films over the last ten years.
*Editor's note, as of February 16, 2026: Contrary to previous plans, the films "Sad Song of Touha" and "The Dislocation of Amber" will not be screened at this year's Forum Expanded. The Cimatheque – Alternative Film Center, in consultation with the filmmakers' families, has decided to withdraw the films from the festival.
February 2026