Karama Yemen Film Festival

Karama Yemen Film Festival is the first and only film festival in Yemen. Acting as a window to the world, and a window into Yemeni culture, the festival aims to provide Yemenis with open, safe, and free platforms that employ the arts to discuss topics related to human rights, social justice, and democracy. The program runs on an annual basis with a mission to normalize artistic and cultural platforms and festivals and to encourage public participation in the arts. It works to promote cinema and visual media across the Yemeni people and acts as a bridge between local and international audiences.

The program targets young Yemenis, HR defenders, artists, creative creators, researchers, and cultural practitioners, and brings them together with audience members to embark on a journey of learning and exploration through cinema and film, through discussion and debate, and through fostering spontaneous safe spaces. As such, the program further wishes to attract decision-makers and the regional and international community to advocate for HR issues concerning Yemeni youth.

Each year, the festival has a different theme, and an open call is made for film submissions and panel discussions. The festival is launched and includes a number of activities like film screenings, panel discussions, master classes, and festival awards. The festival is unique in its ability to bring people together and allow them to discuss unconventional topics that are often considered “taboo”, and as such emphasize the role of the arts in motivating positive change and contributing to more diverse and accepting communities.