Six films will be screened during the University of Wyoming Honors College's Second Middle East Film Festival on Saturday and Sunday, February 22-23. The two-day event is free and open to the public.

Three different films will be screened each day Screenings will be held at 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. each day. Food will be available at 6 p.m. on both days.

A question-and-answer session with directors will follow each film—most will be conducted via Zoom. Matthew Rankin, a Canadian director based in Montreal, will attend in person as the festival's special guest. He will answer questions after the screening of his film Universal Language, which received the first-ever Chantal Akerman Award, an audience prize presented to the best film in the 2024 Cannes Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight section. The film has been described by the director as blending "the poetic realism of the great Iranian masters with Canadian surrealism," and elsewhere as a film in which "Iranian cinema has actually invaded Winnipeg."

Ahmad Nadalizadeh, an Honors College assistant instructional professor who specializes in Middle Eastern films, organized the event.

"We are thrilled to offer this second iteration of the only Middle East Film Festival in the United States," says Peter Parolin, UW Honors College dean. "The films are carefully chosen to introduce audiences to new geographies, new ways of navigating the world, and new ways of approaching film."

Screenings

February 22, 2025

Miguel's War - 10:00 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Screening

12:10 - 1:10 p.m.  - Conversation with Eliane Raheb

My Sweet Pepper Land - 2:30 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. Screening

4:10 - 5:10 p.m. - Conversation with Hiner Saleem

Terrestrial Verses - 7:00 p.m. - 8:10 p.m. Screening

8:10 - 9:10 p.m. - Conversation with Alireza Khatami

February 23, 2025

My Favorite Cake - 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Screening

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  - Conversation with Behtash Sanaeeha & Maryam Moghaddam

Brother's Keeper- 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Screening

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Conversation with Ferit Karahan

Universal Language - 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Screening

8:30 - 9:30 p.m. - Conversation with Matthew Rankin

Date: February 22-23, 2025

Location: UW Arts and Sciences Auditorium, 200 North 9th Street Laramie, WY 82072

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