September is here already — wtf? That also means it’s TIFF season (number 50, no less). The buzz is real around The Voice of Hind Rajab, but that’s just one of the many highlights this week. Between shisha nights, charity walks, stand-up shows, and film premieres, this is hands down the most jam-packed issue since I started khamsa back in June.

– Nassar
Chief Culture Guide — khamsa🖐🏽

Ready to shake things up? Join Ya Amar this fall and discover the joy of bellydance — a fun, empowering, and energizing way to move your body and connect with community.

💃🏽 Open to all levels
💃🏽 Taught by passionate, experienced instructors
💃🏽 Feel strong, confident, and inspired
💃🏽 Spots are limited — now’s the perfect time to try something new.

🎤 The Elite Stand-Up Comedy Show
A night of bold, smart, and hilariously relatable comedy. Egypt’s most iconic stand-up voices bring their talent to Toronto for the first time.
🌟 Ahmed Khairy, Ahmed Essam, Taha Desouky, Mohamed Ashraf, Mostafa Abbas & Waleed El-Moghazy
💬 Egyptian Arabic
🗓️ Thursday, September 4 · Doors 7:00 pm, Show 8:00–10:00 pm
📍 Toronto Pavilion, 190 Railside Rd, North York, ON M3A 1A3
🎟️ Tickets — Eveenty

💨 Meem Toronto Shisha Night
Join Meem Toronto for an evening of shisha, food, and community on the rooftop patio of Opal Lounge. This gathering is open to queer and trans people from the Arabic-speaking region.
🌟 Meem Toronto
💬 Arabic / English
🗓️ Thursday, September 4 · 7:00 pm
📍 Opal Lounge, 124 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N1
🎟️ RSVP — Instagram

🎶 Syrian Music Night with Diar & Friends
Diar (دْيَار) return to DROM Taberna with a rich repertoire of Syrian and Arabic songs, blending popular ballads and lively folk with a flamenco touch.
🌟 Diar with Rula, Asser Abdo, Anas Raslan, Tarek Ghriri & Nour Kdn
💬 Arabic / English
🗓️ Thursday, September 4 · 8:00–10:00 pm
📍 DROM Taberna, 458 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2A8
🎟️ Tickets — Eventbrite

🎬 TIFF50: Palestine 36 (World Premiere at TIFF)
Toronto International Film Festival favourite Annemarie Jacir returns with an ambitious period drama set in 1930s Palestine under British rule. Palestine 36 tells a powerful story of ambition, resistance, and identity at a critical turning point in Palestinian history.
🌟 Director: Annemarie Jacir | Cast: Karim Daoud Anaya, Wardi Eilabouni, Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass, Jeremy Irons
💬 Arabic & English (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Friday, September 5 · 1:30–3:30 pm
📍 Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON M5J 2H5
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Unidentified (World Premiere at TIFF)
The latest from Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al Mansour (Wadjda) is a suspenseful crime thriller that confronts patriarchal norms and challenges narratives of femicide. When a young woman’s body is found in the desert, receptionist-turned-detective Nawal (Mila Alzahrani) takes matters into her own hands to uncover the truth.
🌟 Director: Haifaa Al Mansour | Cast: Mila Alzahrani
💬 Saudi Arabian Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Friday, September 5 · 3:30–5:30 pm
📍 TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎶 The Egyptian Coptic Festival (Day 1)
Since 2018, the Egyptian Coptic Festival has brought the community together to celebrate Egyptian culture, history, and arts in the heart of Mississauga. Expect Family fun, food, kids’ activities, vendors, and live performances.
🌟 Headline show by Cairo pop star Mahmoud El Lithy.
💬 Arabic / English
🗓️ Friday, September 5 · 3:30–11:00 pm
📍 Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Dr, Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1
🎟️ Public event — Instagram

🍴 Supper for Sweida by Rahaf Alkabani
Beloved Syrian cook and Newcomer Kitchen alum Rahaf Alkabani returns to The Dep to host a special dinner in solidarity with her hometown of Sweida. Proceeds will help families under siege access food, medicine, and clean water.
🌟 Rahaf Alkabani, presented by The Depanneur
💬 English / Arabic
🗓️ Friday, September 5 · 6:30–8:30 pm
📍 Centre for Social Innovation – Spadina, 192 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 3A4
🎟️ Tickets (use 15% discount code SEPTEMBER) — The Depanneur

🎬 TIFF50: Bouchra (World Premiere at TIFF)
This inventive debut feature by Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani blends documentary and 3D animation to explore the layered relationship between queer Moroccan filmmaker Bouchra and her mother in Casablanca. A playful yet deeply affecting portrait of identity, art, and family.
🌟 Directors: Orian Barki & Meriem Bennani
💬 Moroccan Arabic, French & English (with subtitles)
🗓️ Friday, September 5 · 9:15–11:15 pm
📍 TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🚶 Charity Walk for Gaza
A 5 km community walk for unity and solidarity. After the walk, enjoy family-friendly activities including kite-making and flying in Palestinian colours, dabke performances, vendors, and delicious food — all to raise awareness and support for Gaza.
🌟 The Canadian Palestinian Professional Foundation in partnership with Trillume
💬 English / Arabic
🗓️ Saturday, September 6 · 9:30 am–10:00 pm (5 km walk starts at 11:00 am, activities from 1:00 pm)
📍 Croatian Parish "Father Kamber" Private Park, 4525 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, ON L5M 7C6
🎟️ Donation Ticket — Zeffy

🎶 The Egyptian Coptic Festival (Day 2)
Day 2 of the Egyptian Coptic Festival has brought the community together to celebrate Egyptian culture, history, and arts in the heart of Mississauga.
🌟 Headline show by Nawal El Zoghby and Samo Zaen
💬 Arabic / English
🗓️ Saturday, September 6 · 1:00–11:00 pm
📍 Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Dr, Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1
🎟️ Public event — Instagram

✍️ Arabic Calligraphy Classes
Explore the beauty of Arabic calligraphy in weekly Saturday sessions at BookBridge, guided by an experienced calligrapher. This week’s class includes a special contest in honour of Mawlid Al Nabawi, with a prize for the best calligraphy piece written during the session.
🌟 BookBridge Bookstore
💬 Arabic / English
🗓️ Saturday, September 6 · 2:00–4:00 pm (weekly until Oct 12)
📍 BookBridge, 135 Sixth St, Etobicoke, ON M8V 3A6
🎟️ Tickets — Eventbrite

🎬 TIFF50: Bouchra (World Premiere at TIFF)
This inventive debut feature by Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani blends documentary and 3D animation to explore the layered relationship between queer Moroccan filmmaker Bouchra and her mother in Casablanca. A playful yet deeply affecting portrait of identity, art, and family.
🌟 Directors: Orian Barki & Meriem Bennani
💬 Moroccan Arabic, French & English (with subtitles)
🗓️ Saturday, September 6 · 5:30–7:30 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Unidentified (World Premiere at TIFF)
The latest from Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al Mansour (Wadjda) is a suspenseful crime thriller that confronts patriarchal norms and challenges narratives of femicide. When a young woman’s body is found in the desert, receptionist-turned-detective Nawal (Mila Alzahrani) takes matters into her own hands to uncover the truth.
🌟 Director: Haifaa Al Mansour | Cast: Mila Alzahrani
💬 Saudi Arabian Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Saturday, September 6 · 9:30–11:30 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Sink (World Premiere at TIFF)
Jordanian filmmaker Zain Duraie’s debut feature tells the intimate story of a mother fighting to stay connected to her teenage son as his mental health unravels. A poignant exploration of family, stigma, and resilience.
🌟 Director: Zain Duraie | Cast: Clara Khoury, Mohammad Nizar
💬 Jordanian Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Sunday, September 7 · 3:30–5:30 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: The Voice of Hind Rajab (North American Premiere at TIFF)
Oscar-nominated director Kaouther Ben Hania blends real emergency call recordings with scripted re-enactments to tell the devastating true story of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl trapped under Israeli fire in Gaza. A haunting tribute to Hind’s voice and the first responders who tried to save her.
🌟 Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
💬 Arabic & English (with subtitles)
🗓️ Sunday, September 7 · 8:45–10:45 pm
📍 TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Palestine 36 (World Premiere at TIFF)
Toronto International Film Festival favourite Annemarie Jacir returns with an ambitious period drama set in 1930s Palestine under British rule. Palestine 36 tells a powerful story of ambition, resistance, and identity at a critical turning point in Palestinian history.
🌟 Director: Annemarie Jacir | Cast: Karim Daoud Anaya, Wardi Eilabouni, Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass, Jeremy Irons
💬 Arabic & English (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Sunday, September 7 · 9:15–11:15 pm
📍 TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

.🎬 TIFF50: The Voice of Hind Rajab (North American Premiere at TIFF)
Oscar-nominated director Kaouther Ben Hania blends real emergency call recordings with scripted re-enactments to tell the devastating true story of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl trapped under Israeli fire in Gaza. A haunting tribute to Hind’s voice and the first responders who tried to save her.
🌟 Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
💬 Arabic & English (with subtitles)
🗓️ Monday, September 8 · 3:30–5:30 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Sink (World Premiere at TIFF)
Jordanian filmmaker Zain Duraie’s debut feature tells the intimate story of a mother fighting to stay connected to her teenage son as his mental health unravels. A poignant exploration of family, stigma, and resilience.
🌟 Director: Zain Duraie | Cast: Clara Khoury, Mohammad Nizar
💬 Jordanian Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Monday, September 8 · 8:45–10:45 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream (North American Premiere at TIFF)
Acclaimed Iraqi director Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji returns with a heartbreaking yet poetic story of war orphans navigating survival in a ruined city. Rooted in the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, the film blends grief, resilience, and the enduring dreams of children caught in conflict.
🌟 Director: Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji
💬 Iraqi Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Tuesday, September 9 · 12:30–2:30 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Flana (World Premiere at TIFF)
Zahraa Ghandour’s powerful debut explores the unexplained disappearances of Iraqi women, blending personal memory with investigative storytelling. Through the lens of her childhood friend Nour, she sheds light on the silence surrounding generations of women lost to conflict, tradition, and neglect.
🌟 Director: Zahraa Ghandour
💬 Iraqi Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Tuesday, September 9 · 3:15–5:15 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Calle Málaga (North American Premiere at TIFF)
Maryam Touzani’s Spanish-language debut tells the story of María Ángeles, a strong-willed senior in Tangier resisting her daughter’s push to sell their family home. With warmth and humour, the film celebrates community, resilience, and late-in-life love.
🌟 Directed by Maryam Touzani, starring Carmen Maura
💬 Spanish & Moroccan Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Tuesday, September 9 · 6:30–8:30 pm
📍 TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Flana (World Premiere at TIFF)
Zahraa Ghandour’s powerful debut explores the unexplained disappearances of Iraqi women, blending personal memory with investigative storytelling. Through the lens of her childhood friend Nour, she sheds light on the silence surrounding generations of women lost to conflict, tradition, and neglect.
🌟 Director: Zahraa Ghandour
💬 Iraqi Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Wednesday, September 10 · 6:00–8:00 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Calle Málaga (North American Premiere at TIFF)
Maryam Touzani’s Spanish-language debut tells the story of María Ángeles, a strong-willed senior in Tangier resisting her daughter’s push to sell their family home. With warmth and humour, the film celebrates community, resilience, and late-in-life love.
🌟 Directed by Maryam Touzani, starring Carmen Maura
💬 Spanish & Moroccan Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Wednesday, September 10 · 6:15–8:15 pm
📍 TIFF Lightbox, 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: The President’s Cake (North American Premiere at TIFF)
Hasan Hadi’s award-winning drama follows Lamia, a young girl in 1990s Iraq tasked with providing a cake for her class’s forced celebration of Saddam Hussein’s birthday, a nearly impossible demand for her and her grandmother to meet under crushing sanctions. What begins as a small duty becomes a haunting portrait of scarcity, survival, and the cruelty of authoritarian rule.
🌟 Directed by Hasan Hadi
💬 Iraqi Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Wednesday, September 10 · 7:00–9:00 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

🎬 TIFF50: Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream (North American Premiere at TIFF)
Acclaimed Iraqi director Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji returns with a heartbreaking yet poetic story of war orphans navigating survival in a ruined city. Rooted in the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, the film blends grief, resilience, and the enduring dreams of children caught in conflict.
🌟 Director: Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji
💬 Iraqi Arabic (with English subtitles)
🗓️ Wednesday, September 10 · 7:30–9:30 pm
📍 Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3M6
🎟️ Tickets — TIFF

❌ Spotted an error or want your events added in future issues? I’ll take care of it right away. Just email me.