Weaving Threads of Identity at Leighton House
07 September '23
There was an openness in that room, a bond, that I’m sure translated into the art.
Arab films at the BFI London Film Festival 2023
01 September '23
The BFI London Film Festival runs from 4 to 15 October 2023 at venues in London, around the UK and on BFI Player. We wanted to make your life easier, so below you'll find the full listings of all Arab films screening this year.
REVIEW: Freedom Fields at the Garden Cinema
25 August '23
Freedom Fields is a timely rewatch. Fadwa’s determination to speak out against the Libyan FA and inspire others reflects on that of the Spanish players who sat out of the FIFA World Cup this year.
Books to read this summer
11 August '23
In collaboration with Saqi Books, we've put together a list of titles we think you'll love to read this summer.
Q&A with Jessica El-Mal, our Arab Britain Curator
04 August '23
I am most looking forward to meeting and working with artists, and building new networks of solidarity, support and knowledge sharing.
Untold stories of Arabs in Victorian Britain
04 August '23
As we continue to read history between the lines, we can pave the way for a deeper understanding of the role played by our communities in shaping the landscape of British history.
REVIEW: Wild Thorns
24 July '23
A hugely important novel in demonstrating oft ignored realities, Khalifeh’s Wild Thorns is essential reading for those seeking a greater understanding of the pure humanity in Palestine, and the depth and breadth of experience in the nation today.
REVIEW: Iraq’s Invisible Beauty
24 July '23
Themes of progress and regression, humankind’s power to create and destroy, and the contrast between urban and rural weave a loving, but honest, portrait of Iraq as only someone who truly knows it could paint.
SAFAR: The Final Dispatch
17 July '23
Waiting for my train at Barbican station, I recall the films and stories in which I have been immersed at SAFAR screenings. I think of the awe-inspiring filmmakers at this year’s edition; at times, effectively risking their livelihoods, prosecution and more, in order to share their stories with the world.
SAFAR Dispatch: R21 & Shorts
10 July '23
In expanding on the background behind the plot of her film, Maha talks about the culture and rituals revolving around VHS tape rental shops in the 1980s. She relates some of the mischief that occurred when the tape inside a rented VHS cassette was swapped for a tape of a completely different film. The staff of the video rentals store wouldn’t be any the wiser, and would simply hand over the tape to the next unsuspecting customer.