Arab Film Festival 2026 with Villa Albertine San Francisco

Villa Albertine San Francisco is pleased to support the 30th edition of the Arab Film Festival, the oldest and largest festival dedicated to Arab cinema in the United States. This year’s program features two films by French filmmakers Laila Marrakchi and Leyla Bouzid, offering distinct perspectives on women’s experiences, family relationships, migration, and the pursuit of dignity and justice.

Through compelling storytelling and a nuanced cinematic language, Strawberries and In a Whisper explore the complexities of life across Morocco, Tunisia, and the wider French-speaking world, illuminating the diverse cultural experiences that emerge at the intersection of French and Arab identities. By bringing these films to San Francisco audiences, Villa Albertine celebrates the excellence and diversity of contemporary French cinema while fostering intellectual exchange and a deeper understanding of the histories, experiences, and perspectives that connect cultures across the Mediterranean. 

Laila Marrakchi, Strawberries, 2026 
The film follows a group of Moroccan women who travel to Andalusia, Spain, for seasonal strawberry-picking work, hoping to secure better opportunities for their families. Instead, they encounter harsh working conditions and abuse. As they form a close bond, they collaborate with a lawyer to pursue justice. 

Leyla Bouzid, In a Whisper, 2026  
After living for many years in Paris, a young woman returns to Tunisia to attend the funeral of her uncle. Staying in the family home shared by three generations of women, she is confronted with unspoken tensions, resurfacing memories, and shifting family relationships.