The migrant workers who, especially since 1945, have come to Belgium to contribute to the economic development of our country, have not only brought the labour force in exchange for which they were allowed to live here. Although Belgians were sometimes slow to realise it, these workers came from countries that had conceived or gathered the most brilliant civilisations of humanity. They spent their childhood near monuments and ruins that we revere, and spoke a language more ancient than our own. They adapted to the pace of industrial society without forgetting the culture in which they grew up. Today they have children, born, or at least brought up, in Belgium, who risk becoming strangers to the religion, language, expressive arts and customs of their ancestors.

Arab civilisation is no longer just a grandiose memory. By contributing to the initiative of an Arab Film Festival, the Centre Socio-Culturel des Immigrés de Bruxelles hopes to create a significant event for a better mutual understanding between Belgians and immigrants, Arabs and non-Arabs alike. Most Arab countries have an abundant film production, no less diverse than that of the West. The screening of these films in their original version in Brussels will be an opportunity for Arabic-speaking immigrants to rediscover contemporary elements of their culture. French subtitles will enable other immigrants and Belgians to take part in this discovery. Meetings between the directors of the films to be screened and Western filmmakers or film critics will also be organised, to help us better appreciate the meaning of an art form which, using techniques similar to our own, conveys a very different message.

The joint initiative of the Centre socio-culturel des Immigrés de Bruxelles, the Commission française de la Culture de l'Agglomération de Bruxelles, Peymey-Diffusion and Tamurt Productions has received enthusiastic support from those whose help was indispensable. We are particularly grateful to Mr Philippe Moureaux, Minister-President of the Executive of the French-speaking Community of Belgium, who has agreed to patronise this festival, to the Commissariat général aux Relations internationales de la Communauté française Wallonie-Bruxelles, to the Office of the League of Arab States in Brussels and to the Cultural Services of the embassies of Arab countries in Brussels.

François Riguaux 
Président du Centre socio-culturel des Immigrés de Bruxelles