A classic trope of American cinema is mob movies, especially Italian-American mafia families. Jennifer Esposito, actor-turned-director, takes the overdone genre and flips it on its head. Fresh Kills tells the stories of the women in these organized crime families. The story that Esposito tells in her directorial debut follows the story of a wife and…

Movies that discuss important social issues, and science fiction movies usually do not cross paths. But, Moroccan writer-director Sofia Alaoui does an incredible job of weaving both flawlessly and effortlessly in her feature debut Animalia.  Itta, played by the talented Oumaïma Barid, is a happily married and heavily pregnant women. As her husband and her…

What is good and what is evil? What is the difference between a good and a bad person? Can an evil person become a truly good person? What can make an honest person turn into a horrible human being? Are people capable of change? What are second chances and how deserve them?  These are questions…

The current humanitarian crisis in Gaza keeps escalating.  The brutality and violence against them grow more horrifying by the second. Tomorrow, the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), the international education non-profit foundation, will host a plenary session focused on education under attack, what is happening to young people in Gaza, and the long-term effects of…

The 15th edition of the Abu Dhabi Art Fair took place between 22 – 26 November at Manarat Al Saadiyat. It is one of the largest yet, and hosted several exhibitions, commissions, talks, performances, workshops, tours, and culinary experiences. It gave space for more than 50 speakers and highlighted a variety of daily performances by…

Books are oppression’s worst enemy. When stripping people of their rights, the first to go is their right to knowledge. The possibility of a just future and unoccupied land is at stake when people are denied access to knowledge. The banning of any book is perturbing. It censors the freedom of speech of the author…

School is the place where children are first introduced to the real world. They leave their cozy nest and enter an unfamiliar world. Soon, they find solace in similarity- similar people, similar interests, similar progress. But, when that familiarity is lost, they feel alone, different, and deserted. This is how many children with learning difficulties…

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is hosting the highly anticipated “Tutankhamun – The Immersive Exhibition” for the first time in Egypt. The captivating temporary exhibition engages the visitors in meticulously recreated temples, treasures, and mysteries of Ancient Egypt. In collaboration with Madrid Artes Digitales, the exhibition is now available for visitors from November 21st until…

Our mornings are no longer filled with breakfast and coffee, they are filled with guilt and pain. Our car rides are no longer filled with joyous beats, they are filled with news about Gaza. Many of us are consumed with survivor’s guilt finding it hard to go about our daily lives. In fact, we feel…

Five hundred people with disabilities celebrated their graduation from the SEED employability program. Helm, in partnership with the Drosos Foundation, held the monuments event on November 18th at The Greek Campus. The ceremony honored graduates from 25 different governorates. In attendance was the Minister of Social Solidarity, Doctor Nevine El Kabbaj. Also, the highly beloved…

A picture can capture a fond memory between lovers. It can encapsulate a life-changing event. Photos can be a tool to revisit a childhood memory. It may be a reminder of a departed beloved. Sadly, a picture can also capture humankind’s worst moments. The global community associates entire world events to a single picture. The…

The Arabic sound has always been influential and powerful. It was a tool to express identity, culture, and tradition. It is in every part of our culture- in weddings, births, and graduations. As time passed, our identities became more complex and interconnected.  The rising voice in Arab music echoes the intricate identities of multicultural Arabs…

Imagine you have to take your younger sibling with you everywhere you go. They are clingy, inconvenient, and a bit annoying. They might embarrass you in front of your friends. But by giving them a little bit of extra attention, you can manage. This is how Moataz Hisham, a Type 1 diabetic, fitness and nutrition…

Metro 23 | Half-tales from a moving train explores the intersection of the stories of people. The multimedia art exhibition is a collection of Ghadah Alkandari’s moments over the past six months of living in Cairo. The exhibition takes place in Access Art Space. It had its opening night on the 11th of November and…

“A land without a people for a people without a land” A phrase used to deny and wipe away The Nakba, the horrendous displacements of natives from their land. The land which they have shared with their ancestors. The land that gave them olive trees, oranges, and watermelons. How can a land without people have…

Love, joy, and care are motherhood. Guilt, shame, and loneliness are also motherhood. But, one set is shared proudly, and the other reeks of shame. Motherhood is a complex yet beautiful journey that many women share. Yet, it can be one of the most isolating experiences due to the toxic cultural frame that society builds…

The journey began when Andrea Sztojánovits received a copy of Baalbek by Hungarian Artist Csontváry. Soon after, inspiration struck Sztojánovits, and she went to Pécs, a Hungarian city where the Csontváry museum is located. After looking at the original for quite some time, she began to hear the painting speak to her, telling her to…

For decades, media channels have always misrepresented Palestine. They either highlight the suffering of Palestinians or portray them as savages. They only deal with tragedy or terror. An entire generation of regular people who are only interested in living a normal life and accomplishing their dreams are overlooked. Despite the continuous threats they face, they…

Since 1948, millions of Palestinians have collectively been denied their freedom, deprived of their rights, and robbed of a chance of a fair life. Today, Palestinians are facing one of the most brutal genocides. Palestinians are the only groups of oppressed people whose traumas are constantly invalidated and questioned. No other group has to show…

Art is a vital tool to document historical events to preserve them for future generations, especially in cases of genocide. Also, it adds a human aspect and humanizes distant events. It can promote understanding and reconciliation between groups as it can transcend languages and be widely understood. Art instills hope and resistance in marginalized. Palestinians…

Goodbye Julia is a Sudanese film that explores class, ethnic, and religious unrest in pre-secession Sudan in 2011, which sadly mirrors relevant to the heart-breaking events in Sudan today. The film begins in 2005 and focuses on the nation’s capital, Khartoum. The director and writer Mohamed Kordofani explores political themes with sympathy, righteousness, and humility…

The art of filmmaking is a vessel for people to express their identity, document their struggles, and share their culture. Cinema has the power to serve as a platform for political and social commentary and document history. In fact, films have played a role in transforming the world, as they give a voice to the…

Palestinian women have always played a pivotal role in the opposition against the occupation, apartheid, and displacement. One of the most prevalent ways of Palestinian women’s resistance is the Palestinian art form of tatreez. Tatreez is a form of cross-stitch embroidery that uses colorful threads to create unique designs on a thobe, a traditional ankle-length…

Symbolism has always been a way to cleverly tell a story, convey an idea, and reinforce identity. In the face of oppression, Palestinians have turned to symbols to voice their patriotic feelings toward Palestine. In fact, each symbol is able to summarize its conditions and political state. The ongoing struggle Palestinians live through made them…

For centuries, people used the art of filmmaking to spark conversations that otherwise would have been dismissed. Many films tap into identity, criticize political dynamics, and discuss political issues, which is especially true for films in the Middle East. Let us take a journey through some thought-provoking films from across the region that not only…

When you go to a doctor’s office, you are sick, hurt, or in pain. You want to go in, get a diagnosis, a prescription, and walk out. The experience is draining and over-stimulating but imagine if you also cannot communicate your symptoms. No one understands you, and you cannot understand them. That is the reality…

Following a one-year hiatus, El Gouna Film Festival just released its first wave of highly anticipated international films for its upcoming sixth edition, which will run from October 13 until the 20th. The lineup is a mixture of critically acclaimed films from rising talents and experienced filmmakers. The artistry in these picks guarantees a wonderful…

“Safah El Giza”, a new mini-series revolving around the Giza-based serial killer is set to debut on Shahid on August 25th. The unnerving thriller by renowned director, Hadi El Bagoury, explores the story of the deviant Giza-based serial killer Gaddafi Farag played by Ahmed Fahmy.  The highly anticipated show will give viewers a never-before-seen dive…