Miya Miya Film Club 1st Birthday!

Miya Miya Film Club is an independent community-led film and arts initiative dedicated to celebrating and elevating the voices of the South West Asian and North African (SWANA) region. At a time when nuanced representations of SWANA cultures are urgently needed, Miya Miya offers a space where film and art become tools for cultural preservation, connection, and resistance. The name "Miya Miya" translates to "100/100" in Arabic, symbolising excellence and positivity. Each event is a vibrant gathering that brings together storytelling, traditional food and music, and intergenerational dialogue, offering audiences both within and beyond the SWANA diaspora a chance to experience the region’s richness on its own terms.

This November marks our 1st birthday, and we want to celebrate YOU; the cinephiles, filmmakers, artists, activists, food lovers, and friends who have come together to build this community. Over the past year, Miya Miya has become more than a film club; it’s a space for gathering, learning, exchanging, and celebrating stories that move us and connect us across borders.

For our first birthday, we’re honouring that spirit with a night of short films created by people from within our extended SWANA community. Each film reflects not only a singular artistic voice but also the relationships, conversations, and commitments that have shaped Miya Miya since the beginning.

From Beirut to Toronto, Dharug to Doha, Casablanca to Istanbul, and Gadigal to Gaza, our reach is wide, our collective ties are strong, and our stories deeply intertwined.

Featuring world premieres and films fresh from Cannes and other international showcases, from our friends Mohammed Almughanni, Karim Rahbani, Jonathan Chalouhi, Ayoub Layoussifi & Zahoua Raji, Azadeh Navai, Yakup Tekintangaç, Robin Riad, Raaghed Charabaty, James Elazzi, and Miski Omar.

برتقالة من يافا (An Orange From Jaffa, Palestine, 2024) directed by Mohammed Almughanni.

آخر واحد (One Last Time, Lebanon, 2025) directed by Karim Rahbani.

أرضي (Ardi, Australia/Lebanon, 2025) directed by Jonathan Chalouhi.

شيخة (Chikha, Morocco/France, 2024) directed by Ayoub Layoussifi and Zahoua Raji.

Rizoo (Iran/USA, 2024) directed by Azadeh Navai.

Morî (Mori, Turkey, 2024) directed by Yakup Tekintangaç.

Abgad Hawaz (Canada/Egypt, 2025) directed by Robin Riad.

فضائيون في بيروت (Aliens in Beirut, Lebanon/Canada, 2025) directed by Raghed Charabaty.

بذور من الذهب (Seeds of Gold, Australia/Lebanon, 2024) directed by James Elazzi.

Button Pusher (Australia/Somalia, 2024) directed by Miski Omar.

Included in your ticket is gözleme from Kocagoz, sweets and coffee from Smeed Maamoul, drinks from Gaza Cola and Salaam Cola and a donation to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.

Miya Miya prides itself on being a hub of safety, inclusivity, and community. Our events are a safe and inclusive space for all peoples, including our SWANA, First Nations, Black, POC, Jewish, and LGBTQIASB+ friends, and we have zero tolerance for harassment of any kind.

No one turned away for lack of funds. Please contact the @miyamiyafilmclub instagram page for ticketing enquiries.

Miya Miya Film Club meets on unceded Gadigal and Wangal land of the Eora Nation. Miya Miya Film Club acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters, and community. Miya Miya Film Club pays its respects to the people, the cultures, and the Elders past and present and emerging. Always was, always will be. Miya Miya Film Club also acknowledges the people of Palestine and their rights for self-determination. We acknowledge the devastation and mass atrocities continuing in Gaza and hope that through greater awareness and collective action, we can work towards a world free from genocide, violence, and injustice. Always was, always will be.