Toronto Arab Film

What Toronto Arab Film does

Toronto Arab Film (TAF) is a Toronto-based non-profit organization founded in 2017 to address the absence of Arab representation in Toronto's film programming. It operates a tri-vertical platform consisting of an annual Toronto Arab Film Festival (TAFF) held each July or August, a year-round screening series called Layali El Cinema, and the Shabaka filmmaker network initiative, which provides screenings, panels, workshops, and professional development resources for Arab filmmakers. Across seven editions the organization has screened films from 40+ Arab countries and offers tiered passes (Orouba all-access, Mezze 5-screening, Shabaka industry) plus individual tickets for features, shorts, workshops, panels, and social events.

The organization's underlying technology is a commodity WordPress website with WooCommerce for ticketing and merchandise sales, Stripe for payment processing, and Google Analytics for traffic measurement — there is no proprietary technology stack. Programming is delivered in person at a rotating set of Toronto venues (Spadina Theatre, Small World Centre, Revue Cinema, Centre for Social Innovation, Alliance Française Toronto, Miraki Life Workspace) and virtually across Canada. Co-presentation agreements with peer Toronto festivals (Reel Asian, Images Festival, Diaspora Film Festival, Toronto Palestine Film Festival, Breakthroughs, Lebanese Film Festival in Canada) and a media partnership with OMNI Television and Rivo extend distribution reach.

TAF's business model blends earned and contributed revenue. Earned revenue comes from ticket and pass sales, a small merchandise storefront (pins, notebooks, journals, t-shirts, tote bags priced $3–$25), and corporate sponsorships. Contributed revenue includes charitable donations collected via PayPal and multi-year grants from Canadian public funders — notably the Toronto Arts Council, Telefilm Canada, the Ontario Arts Council, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and the Inspirit Foundation. The organization is governed by a board of directors under a co-founder leadership model (Anas Aldera and Rolla Tahir, with Mason Hatahet as board director and co-founder) and operates with 1–10 staff, making it a small, grant-dependent cultural non-profit rather than a venture-scaled enterprise.

Name

Toronto Arab Film

Legal name

Toronto Arab Film

Website

https://arabfilm.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Toronto Arab Film is a Toronto-based non-profit, founded in 2017, that runs an annual Arab film festival, year-round Layali El Cinema screenings, and the Shabaka filmmaker development network, serving Arab and non-Arab film audiences and emerging Arab filmmakers in Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket and Pass Sales: Revenue generated from individual screening tickets, festival passes (Orouba All-Access Pass, Mezze 5-Screening Pass, Shabaka Industry Pass), and workshop/social tickets sold through the website.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations collected via PayPal from supporters who want to give Arab filmmakers a platform. TAF is a non-profit organization relying on donor generosity.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including button pins, journals, notebooks, t-shirts, and tote bags through the online shop.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsors provide financial and in-kind support in exchange for visibility at the festival and on the TAF website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Toronto Arab Film is a Toronto-based non-profit organization founded in 2017 that programs, produces, and presents Arab and Arab-diasporic cinema. It operates an annual film festival in Toronto, year-round screening series called Layali El Cinema, and filmmaker development workshops known as Shabaka, serving local audiences and the broader Canadian Arab community.

Product overview

Toronto Arab Film is a non-profit film organization operating as a multi-platform portfolio rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include the annual Toronto Arab Film Festival (TAFF) showcasing Arab cinema, the year-round Layali El Cinema screening series, and the SHABAKA filmmaker network providing ongoing screenings, panels, workshops, and professional development resources. Additional offerings include festival passes and tickets, a filmmaker resource hub, and a merchandise shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Toronto Arab Film Festival (Annual Festival) An annual multi-day film festival held in Toronto that curates and screens feature films, documentaries, and short films from Arab and Arab-diasporic filmmakers for general public audiences and the Canadian Arab community.
• Layali El Cinema (Year-Round Screening Series) A year-round cinematic screening program presenting curated Arab films outside the main festival window, intended for community members and film enthusiasts in the Greater Toronto Area.
• Shabaka (Filmmaker Workshops) Workshop-based programming designed to develop emerging Arab and Arab-diasporic filmmakers through educational sessions, mentorship, and community engagement in Toronto.
• Festival Merchandise Branded merchandise sold online and at festival events, including apparel and commemorative items for festival attendees and supporters.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Director's Guild of Canada (DGC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Directors Guild of Canada is a national labour organization representing over 7,000 screen-based industry professionals. Listed as a sponsor for TAF's 2026 festival, contributing to professional development events.
• OMNI TelevisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCanada's only multilingual and multicultural television broadcaster, offering programming in over 40 languages including Arabic. Listed as a media partner for TAF's 2025 and 2026 festivals.
• RivominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRivo is a streaming platform for stories exploring migration, identity, and belonging through diverse and BIPOC voices. Listed as a media partner for TAF's 2026 festival.
• Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMAA is a national non-profit representing over 90 independent film, video, audio and new media organizations in Canada, serving 16,000+ media artists. Listed as a community partner for TAF's 2025 festival.
• Workman ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA multidisciplinary arts organization promoting mental health understanding through creation and presentation. Co-presented Sink (2026) and As I Want (2021) with TAF.
• WIFT+ TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIFT+ Toronto is a member-based not-for-profit dedicated to education, engagement, and empowerment of women in the screen-based media industry. Listed as community partner for TAF's 2025 festival.
• Images FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImages Festival is a non-profit festival dedicated to experimental film, media arts, and contemporary art. Co-presented Shorts Program 3 for TAFF 26 and partnered on multiple years of TAF programming.
• Habibi Film RentalsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToronto-based professional motion picture camera, lens, lighting and support rental company. Listed as a community partner for TAF's 2025 festival.
• Breakthroughs Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBreakthroughs Film Festival is a Toronto-based festival. Co-presented Shorts Program 2 for TAFF 26.
• Toronto Reel Asian International Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReel Asian is a Toronto-based film festival celebrating Asian cinema. Co-presented Hijra for TAFF 26.
• Lebanese Film Festival In CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLebanese Film Festival In Canada (LFFC) celebrates Lebanese cinema. Co-presented The Cats, The Sea, and Everything In Between for TAFF 26.
• Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPFF celebrates Palestinian cinema and culture. Co-presented It Must Be Heaven with TAF at Toronto Outdoor Picture Show 2026.
• Diaspora Film Festival (DFF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiaspora Film Festival showcases films about diaspora experiences. Co-presented Shorts Program 1 for TAFF 26.
• Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC is the collective voice of independent Canadian documentary creators and the nation's premier organization for documentary film. Co-presented Flana for TAFF 26.
• Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Social Innovation is a Toronto workspace and community for social innovators. Venue partner for TAF's 2026 festival, hosting professional development days and workshops at 192 Spadina Ave.
• Alliance Française Toronto (AFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFT is a community gathered around Francophone cultures and Canadian bilingualism, and the largest French language school in Canada. Venue partner for TAF's 2026 festival.
• Miraki Life WorkspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiraki Life is a Toronto creative hub, studio, and workspace for artists and community-builders. Venue partner for TAF's 2026 festival, hosting the Closing Reception.
• Small World CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmall World Centre is an intimate cultural venue in Toronto operated by Small World Music, serving as a hub for music, arts, film, and cultural dialogue. Venue partner for TAFF 2026.
• Revue CinemaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRevue Cinema is a historic Toronto cultural treasure and community cinema operated by the Revue Film Society, hosting over 1,000 screenings annually. Venue partner for TAFF 2026.
• University of Toronto - Faculty of Arts & Science - Cinema Studies InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cinema Studies Institute at U of T offers undergraduate and graduate programs in cinema studies. Partnered with TAF's 2020 and 2025 festivals.
• York University - School of the Arts, Media, Performance & DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYork University's School of AMPD offers programs in arts, media, performance and design. Partnered with TAF's 2020 festival.
• Goethe-Institut TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany promoting German language and culture. Partnered with TAF's 2020 festival and workshops.
• Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIFT is an artist-run charitable organization facilitating excellence in the moving image. Partnered with TAF's 2020 festival and hosted workshops.
• Hot DocsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHot Docs is North America's largest documentary festival, conference and market. Listed as a partner for TAF's 2020 festival.
• Regent Park Film Festival (RPFF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegent Park Film Festival is a Toronto community film festival. Listed as a partner for TAF's 2020 festival.
• Trinity Square Video (TSV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSV is one of Canada's first artist-run centres and oldest media arts centre, founded in 1971. Partnered with TAF's 2020 festival.
• University of Toronto - Innis CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnis College at U of T is home to the Cinema Studies Institute and hosts film events. Partnered with TAF's 2020 festival.
• Levant PizzaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLevant is a Sicilian-style pizza restaurant in Toronto's Bloorcourt neighbourhood. Listed as F&B partner for TAFF 2025 and 2026, providing food at festival events.
• Columbus Café & Co - PortlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColumbus Café & Co is a café located at 530 Front Street West in Toronto, committed to working with local suppliers. Listed as F&B partner for TAFF 2026, serving at the Opening Reception.
• Diaspora ExpressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiaspora Express is a cultural organization. Listed as a partner for TAF's 2020 festival.
• Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFMDC is a not-for-profit independent media arts distributor established in 1967, specializing in artist-made work. Listed as a community partner for TAF's 2025 festival.
• Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) presents free outdoor film screenings at Christie Pits Park. TAF co-presented It Must Be Heaven and Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts as part of TOPS' 2026 Going Places program.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hot Docs: North America's largest documentary festival, conference and market based in Toronto; documented TAF partner (2020), an established incumbent operating at much greater scale in the same exhibition and filmmaker-development space.

Direct peers

• Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF): Toronto-based annual festival dedicated to Palestinian cinema and culture; co-presents with TAF (e.g., It Must Be Heaven via TOPS) and serves the same Arab-diaspora audience in Toronto with a more country-specific lens.
• Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS): Toronto free outdoor film exhibition series at Christie Pits Park; co-presented TAF-curated screenings (It Must Be Heaven, Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts) for 2026, functioning as a community screening partner with overlapping audience and venue relationships.
• Lebanese Film Festival In Canada (LFFC): Toronto festival celebrating Lebanese cinema; co-presented The Cats, The Sea, and Everything In Between with TAF, targeting an overlapping Arab-diaspora audience with a single-country scope versus TAF's pan-Arab mandate.
• Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival: Toronto festival celebrating Asian cinema with a parallel ethnic-diaspora-and-cinema positioning; documented TAF co-presentation partner (Hijra, TAFF 26), operating a similar multi-venue festival model in the same city.
• Regent Park Film Festival (RPFF): Toronto community film festival focused on neighborhood-based access and equity; documented TAF partner (2020) with comparable scale, non-profit structure, and mandate to expand underrepresented filmmakers' reach.
• Images Festival: Toronto non-profit festival dedicated to experimental film, media arts, and contemporary art; co-presented with TAF (Shorts Program 3 for TAFF 26) and shares the multi-venue community-festival model with overlapping audiences.
• Breakthroughs Film Festival: Toronto-based festival focused on films by women directors; co-presented Shorts Program 2 with TAF (TAFF 26), sharing a comparable community-festival footprint and niche-identity programming model.
• Diaspora Film Festival (DFF): Toronto festival showcasing films about diaspora experiences; documented TAF co-presentation partner (Shorts Program 1 for TAFF 26) and directly comparable as a community-rooted, thematically curated festival in the same city.

Emerging players

• Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT): Toronto artist-run charitable organization facilitating excellence in the moving image; documented TAF workshop and festival partner (2020), serving the same Toronto independent filmmaker ecosystem with hands-on production support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xinstagram.com/torontoarabfilm
• YouTubevimeo.com/arabfilm
• Facebookfacebook.com/torontoarabfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/torontoarabfilm
• Instagraminstagram.com/torontoarabfilm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Toronto Arab Film