The annual celebration will spotlight films from the SWANA region in East London.
I’m Migrant Film Festival returns for its second edition at Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel from 1 to 27 February 2026. Presented by Art Forward, the month-long programme platforms voices from the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region through screenings, conversations and community-led events.
Curated by Iraqi filmmaker, photographer and writer Yamam Nabeel, the festival brings together emerging and established filmmakers from across the Arab world, creating space for cultural exchange and intergenerational dialogue through film.
Expect a mix of feature presentations and curated short-film programmes, including national and international premieres. Screenings will be accompanied by panels and talks with filmmakers, actors and producers, offering deeper insight into the stories on screen.
This year’s line-up features 40 films curated by Art Forward and Yamam Nabeel. Highlights include Echoes of a Distant Home, a collection of five short stories exploring longing and identity, and It Must Be Heaven, the acclaimed Palestinian feature. The programme also includes Sudan Remember Us and The Forgotten Civilisation, both presented as feature-and-short pairings, alongside additional titles to be announced across the month.
I’m Migrant Film Festival takes place at Genesis, the family-run independent cinema and arts venue in London’s East End, known for championing local artists and filmmakers alongside a curated slate of independent and mainstream releases.
GO: Visit www.imff.co.uk for more information.