Arabian culture and homosexuality: two components that, although this is frequently alleged, are not mutually exclusive. Even though the treatment and acceptance of homosexuality in the Arab self-concept is still far away from human rights conventions, more and more Arabian artist go public and feature their love, desires and fears in a society that still can punish homosexuals with a death sentence. Our selection of films reveals inside views of the Arabian culture and how it deals with homosexuality.

So far, only very few long films featuring homosexual love have been produced in Arabian cinema. This clearly is due to production regulations. When a film features homosexuality, this issue is usually termed a «Western import product», which infiltrates Arabian culture and destroys it. Short films are an exception. Here independent filmmakers and video artists can make their way of life a central theme and present it in the context of art.
The short film programmes «Hidden Desires» and«Between Secret and Visibility» show two central elements: the irrepressible desire and longing for the same sex and the inner conflict of wanting to openly acknowledge one’s homosexuality and having to hide it and live in fear of discovery.