MENA Film Festival presents the 2026 Opening Ceremony "The Vancouver MENA/SWANA celebration of the year is back and you don’t want to miss out! The celebrated MENA Film Festival Opening Ceremony takes place this year at the Vancouver Playhouse. We are excited to present our opening Crush Bundle of shorts to kick off this year’s theme of Love." For its 7th edition, MENA Film Festival presents something tender during turbulent times. This year, we focus on Love. Some films focus on romantic intimacy and the longing, heartbreak and comedy that comes along with it. Other films explore the platonic and familial bonds that we are born with or create over time. For our community, it is impossible to discuss the idea of love and not mention a love of home and a right to land sovereignty. Thus, we included films in this year’s program that explore the good and complicated relationships we have with our homelands as part of this year's program. We then begin the evening with a musical performance by Sudanda, followed by the screening of our Crush Bundle. Films in this bundle explore the many facets of the heart, especially when romantic love does not unfold as planned.