Event

Opening Gala

Co-presented with:
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MENA Film Festival kicks off #MENA2025 with the celebrated MENA Opening Ceremony! Join us on Saturday, January 25 starting at 3:00 PM for an afternoon of food, music and a movie or two!

Program

3PM – Opening reception – Join us in the VIFF Centre lobby for

  • Mezze by Nuba.
  • Persian tea and nabat on us.
  • Official #MENA2025 art and merch to snag some swag.
  • The Azure carpet to get your “had-to-be-there” shot by MENA’s professional photographers.

4PM – MENA 2025 Opening Ceremony:

  • Land greeting.
  • Word from the MENA team and our community,
  • Music performance.
  • Screening of Some day this kid by…
  • Q&A

6PM – Closing – make your way to the exits and prepare for tonight’s screening and the host of activities throughout the week!

Screening

One Day This Kid

A first-generation Afghan Canadian man takes steps toward establishing an identity of his own while always conscious of his father's shadow.

Alexander Farah

Alexander Farah is an Afghan-Canadian filmmaker currently residing in Vancouver, BC. He is a BFA graduate from Emily Carr University and an MFA candidate at York University. His work has screened globally at Berlinale, Telluride, and Clermont-Ferrand. Alex directed the narrative music video for "Meet You At The Light" which won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Choice Awards at SXSW in 2022. His most recent short film, One Day This Kid, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024.

Land Greetings

Moderator

Emcee

Meet our Jury

Panelists

Speaker

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Performance

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Catering
 and Gifts
 provided by:
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Saturday, January 25, 2025
 |
3:00 pm
 | 
180
 Mins
DOORS: 
Reception: 
2:30 PM
Online Only
VIFF Centre
Online Only
19＋
Tickets
Attend Online