Malmo Arab Film Festival

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Arts & CultureMalmo
DatesDates TBA · Usually AprilCheck locally before booking
Duration7 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forPerformance, exhibitionsMAFF's claim to being Europe's largest Arab
Language["sv"]Currency: SEK
CategoryArts & CultureFestival type
The story

Malmo Arab Film Festival in Malmo

Malmo Arab Film Festival, known as MAFF, has run in Malmo since 2011 and is now the largest Arab film festival in Europe and the only one in Scandinavia. Founded and led by artistic director Mouhamad Keblawi, it screens around 120 films each year by Arab filmmakers or on themes connected to the Arab world, hosting more than 100 international guests across its annual program.

Malmo Arab Film Festival was founded in 2011 by Mouhamad Keblawi, who has served as both its artistic director and chairman since the first edition, building the festival from scratch into an institution that now bills itself as the largest Arab film festival in Europe and the only one anywhere in Scandinavia.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

MAFF's claim to being Europe's largest Arab film festival, and Scandinavia's only one, gives it a cultural weight beyond Malmo's own sizeable Arab diaspora community, drawing filmmakers, critics and audiences from across the continent to a single Swedish city each year

02

The mystery stays covered

Its roughly 120-film program each edition is substantial for a festival built around one region's cinema, spanning fiction, documentary and short film that engage with Arab society and politics as much as with Arab identity abroad

03

The city starts moving

More than 100 international guests attend annually, positioning MAFF as a meeting point for Arab and Arab-diaspora filmmaking rather than simply a screening series, with founder Mouhamad Keblawi steering its artistic direction since 2011

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival draws on and showcases Arab cinema traditions from across the Arab world's many national film industries

Water and renewal

Living ritual

while its Malmo setting reflects the city's significant Arab-diaspora population and Sweden's broader history of migration from Arab countries

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually April

Getting around

Malmo Arab Film Festival is easier when the venue, route and way back from Malmo are chosen before the day starts.

What to wear

Standard cinema-going attire is appropriate; no special dress is required for screenings held across Malmo's regular cinema venues.

Safety

Malmo Arab Film Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Malmo.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

["sv"] · SEK

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map55.61 N, 13.00 EOpen in Google Maps

Malmo, Skane, Sweden

Nearest airportCPH — Copenhagen Kastrup
TransportMalmo Arab Film Festival is easier when the venue, route and way back from Malmo are chosen before the day starts.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Malmo.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Malmo via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Malmo, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for April.Compare faresFestival gearStandard cinema-going attire is appropriate; no special dress is required for screenings held across Malmo's regular cinema venues.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Sweden and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Malmo Arab Film Festival?

Malmo Arab Film Festival is listed for Past edition: 10–16 April 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Malmo Arab Film Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Malmo, Sweden. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

7 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Malmo, Skane, Sweden

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmaffswe.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually April
Source statusOfficial source linked
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