Middle-Eastern Film Festival ry

Organization The Middle-Eastern Film Festival Association (MEFF) is a registered association in Finland. The association was founded in 2014 with the aim of organizing an annual Middle-Eastern Film and Arts festival (M.E.F.A. festival) in Helsinki. The festival is open to everyone. MEFF ry is religiously and politically independent. The founding members include: Sara Bahmanpour (festival director), Jakub Bobrowski (festival producer), Sonja Notley (festival co-ordinator). Budget Budgetary resources available in a year vary from 0-20 000 euros. This year's budget so far is 2000 euros. We are still negotiating with FIME and AVEK for funding. Sources of funding: -City of Helsinki, Foreign ministry -Various organizations and associations -Through fundraising and ticket sales Modalities of action MEFF ry's main event is the M.E.F.A. Festival that will be arranged once a year. This year the festival is held during 9.-12.10.2014. MEFF ry aims to organize other smaller events through out the year, such as panel discussions, seminars, art exhibitions etc. The M.E.F.A. Festival aims to familiarize the viewer with the versatile cinema and culture that the Middle-East has to offer. Along with the film screenings different cultural events will be organised. Films will vary from feature films, documentaries, shorts and animations, and cultural events will vary from music, food, dance, poetry and art events. This year we have managed to book several artists and public figures including: Professor Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila, musician Marouf Majidi, Arabic Peace Choir, film director Hamy Ramezan, Professor Henry Bacon, music ensemble Nefes and Imam Abbas Bahmanpour. The films and artists are possibly from the following countries: Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, Oman, Qatar, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, Bahrain and Saudi-Arabia. Main partners Current partners include the following: City of Helsinki, Moniheli ry, Cinemaja ry, Nuorisoasiankeskus, Voima-magazine, Resalat islamilainen yhdyskunta, Lähi-idän opiskelijat ry, The Embassy of Egypt, The Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran, Middle-East Now -festival, Turkish Travel Agency, Suomi-Iran ystävyysseurayhdistys ry, Farabi Cinema Foundation, Haft Asman Production Company, London Iraqi Cultural Centre, Hakunilan kansainvälinen yhdistys, Alexis Kouros, Jenni Jusslin, Sofia Deniz, Anmar Al- Gaboury, Wisam Elfadl, Heidi Rautionmaa.