The Lisbon Arab Film Festival (LAFF) is inviting filmmakers to submit works for its 3rd edition, scheduled to take place in Lisbon from 23 February to 2 March 2027 at Culturgest – Fundação Caixa Geral de Depósitos.

LAFF is the first festival in Portugal exclusively dedicated to cinema from the Arab world. Through contemporary Arab cinema, the festival aims to promote a deeper understanding of Arab cultures, challenge stereotypes, and foster intercultural dialogue with Portugal and the Lusophone world.

For the 2027 edition, the festival welcomes fiction and documentary films, both feature-length and short, with priority given to committed and independent cinema addressing themes such as human rights, migration, identity, empowerment, freedom and the environment. The programme will also include a Country of Honour section dedicated to Lebanon and a new “The Bridge” section focused on Luso-Arab cultural exchanges.

Filmmakers can benefit from screening their work in a major Lisbon cultural venue, engaging with audiences and professionals, and joining debates, round tables and networking opportunities. Submissions are open until 1 December 2026.