TWIN CITIES ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 23–27, 2026

In 2026, Mizna celebrates the twentieth edition of our flagship program, the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival. We mark this milestone with a year-long, multi-venue program, Looking Forward, Looking Back, which centers images from the history of SWANA (Southwest Asian, North African) filmmaking and our past festivals. Through this framework, we confront the visual record, demanding more from the archive than a sentimental look at the past. While SWANA films have been continually plundered, twisted, and aligned to colonial narratives, this year, Mizna’s film programming considers what overlooked, liberatory lessons the past might offer the present and future. With this goal in mind, we present selections by former Mizna festival curators alongside new restorations of SWANA cinema, drawing radical new meanings from the objects that remain.

CURATORIAL TRANSPARENCY
Mizna has a dedicated film team of three to four part time staff members who program and produce Mizna’s film programming, along with support from the general Mizna team. Lead by Michelle Baroody and Ahmed Abdulmageed, Mizna seeks out and watches contemporary SWANA cinema, new restorations of SWANA classics, as well as an annual call for submissions through FilmFreeway. Mizna has a volunteer screening committee of 15-20 SWANA and SWANA-adjacent community members who help program TCAFF by watching films under consideration and reviewing FilmFreeway submissions. Everyone comes into the conversation with their own unique cultural experiences and relationship to film and moving images. Our screening committee members are located all over the globe and meet bimonthly on Zoom during programming months to discuss films in consideration. For more info, reach out to mizna@mizna.org.

Awards & Prizes

Awards and prizes full details will be released at a later date closer to the festival. Mizna awards cash prizes for both Jury and Audience awards.

Rules & Terms

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

-We seek films made by SWANA, Arab or Arab American filmmakers or films relevant to these communities. Your film must fit this requirement to be considered.

-All non-English language films must include English subtitles. Exceptions will be made for films with very little or no spoken dialogue.

-We exhibit films in the following formats: DCP with a frame rate of 24 fps or high resolution Blu-Ray. Depending on the quality, we will also consider films available on DVD and analog film.

-Selected films must be delivered digitally, or must arrive with shipping and customs duties paid if physical delivery is needed.

-Each film requires a new submission form.

-Please include a 150-word film synopsis with your entry. If selected, we will use this synopsis in all promotional materials for the festival.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

All submissions require a completed Filmfreeway form. Please include all necessary information with the link such as password, director's and/or distributor's contact information, etc. Upon selection we will need additional publicity and marketing materials for our program catalog and media releases. If you are having issues with uploading your information, please contact us at mizna@mizna.org.

** If you are a student, low-income, or an emerging filmmaker unable to upload your film due to submission fees, please email mizna@mizna.org for a fee waiver. **

DVD and BluRay preview copies* should be mailed to:

Twin Cities Arab Film Festival, Mizna
2446 University Ave W, Suite 115
St. Paul, MN 55114
USA

*We will not return physical preview copies.

We enthusiastically welcome submissions and inquiries. However, we will not be able to address questions about the submitted title selections until the TCAFF program has been finalized in September 2026.

8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sarah AJ

    So honored to have screened "Quand la terre respire" at the Twin Cities Arab Film Festival. Shout out to everyone at Mizna for fostering such a dynamic, thoughtful, and grounding space. I felt very supported during the Q&A for my film and throughout the whole process. Definitely my favorite film festival!

    January 2026
    Helpful
  • Ahmed Tharwat

    I'm honored to have my film, The Coptic Grave, screened at the Arab American Film Festival. It was an amazing experience that opened lots of doors for me and my film. An amazing, dedicated group of people with a great mission, .. looking forward to working with in the future!

    January 2026
    Helpful
  • Loulwa Khoury

    Honored to have screened my film We Never Left at Twin Cities Arab FF. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend in person but I would still recommend it and hope to be able to attend in its upcoming editions!

    November 2025
    Helpful
  • Susan Simnett

    Fantastic festival, really well curated, professional and great communication.

    October 2022
    Helpful
  • Ahmed T. Ragheb

    We weren’t able to attend this year’s Twin Cities Arab Film Festival in person but nonetheless immensely enjoyed the experience and were so honored to have our short film “The Sailor” selected! The programming team did an amazing job of making the filmmakers who weren’t able to physically attend feel part of this incredible program. The team was super friendly, well-organized, and punctual - we highly recommend submitting your film here!

    December 2021
    Helpful