Culture

Arabs in the UK series: As one of her final commissioned works, renowned British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid was entrusted to rebuild the Central Bank of Iraq after the 2010 attack. As the project nears completion, we take stock of her enduring legacy

Soon after Amira was screened worldwide, audiences throughout the Arab world were quick to denounce the film's inaccuracies, with some activists even taking to the streets to force its removal from cinemas. The New Arab reports back on the outrage.

Notwithstanding the cinematic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 has been a stellar year for Arab and MENA based filmmakers. With such talent on show, The New Arab have rounded up a few of our favourite picks from the past year.

Film Review: Recently awarded the Jury Prize at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival, Iranian helmer Panah Panahi’s debut Hit The Road is a melancholic drama, uplifted by the wit of its youngest lead character.

Much of Hrair Sarkissian's art is heavily influenced by his Syrian-Armenian roots. An expression of intergenerational trauma and contemporary uncertainty, Sarkissian's latest exhibition at the Sharjah Art Foundation is a must-see.

Book Club: Arab and Muslim characters are all too often typecast as stereotypical roles within global cinema, placing further stress both on the need to offer a greater variety of roles and for filmmakers to find a way to 'authentically' represent.

For thousands of years, the Euphrates River has borne some of humanity's greatest civilisations. A new video project is hoping to capture the significance of the river and its peoples by recording its oral traditions and heritage for posterity.

Film Review: Amina is a historical blockbuster that situates the viewer within the royal fortunes of the Kingdom of Zazzau. Unique in having an African, Muslim heroine as its protagonist, the film has nonetheless garnered mixed reviews.

Film review: Based on real events, Iranian-Australian writer-director and poet Granaz Moussavi’s sophomore feature is a brutal and moving tale set in a war-torn Kabul.

While armchair enthusiasts of European history are well aware of southern Spain's Islamic history, most are unaware that Madrid, Spain's current capital, once had a distinct Islamic footprint. Yet, after centuries of neglect, few relics remain.