A Lebanese Love Story: 30 Years of Life & Loss | Director Cyril Aris on "A Sad and Beautiful World"

We discuss "A Sad and Beautiful World" with director Cyril Aris who shares the deeply personal and societal inspirations behind the film, spanning three decades of life in Lebanon. Written starting 2019 and recorded amidst ongoing instability in Lebanon, the conversation offers a nuanced look at the role of cinema as a witness to history, the challenges of creating art during intense political events, and the delicate balance between personal intimacy and national tragedy. Aris delves into his creative process, from the technical aspects of sound design to the emotional labor of building chemistry between his leads, while reflecting on the enduring spirit of resilience in the Arab world. Recorded on March 9, 2026   00:00 Introduction 04:36 The Genesis of the Idea for A Sad and Beautiful World 07:30 Filmmaking Amidst the Political and Economical Events in Beirut 10:08 Cinema as a Witness to History 16:13 Balancing Love Stories With Societal Context 27:31 Narrative Versus Documentary Direction 34:39 The Importance of Sound and Music Design 44:02 Casting and Collaborating With Mounia Akl and Hasan Akil 53:48 Uncredited Artistic and Literary Inspirations 01:00:10 Top Five Lebanese Film Recommendations   Cyril Aris is a Lebanese Director & Screenwriter and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His first fiction feature film, A Sad and Beautiful World (2025), produced by Abbout Productions (Lebanon) & Diversity Hire (USA) premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival in the Giornate Degli Autori competition, and it won the Audience Award. It was selected as Lebanon’s candidate for Best International Feature Film in the 98th Oscars. The film also played at BFI London Film Festival, and the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci) in Spain, where it won the Audience Award. Other awards include Best Screenplay at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, Best Score and Youth Jury Award at Cinémed in France, the Grand Prize at the Rencontres Cinématographiques in Cannes, the Snow Leopard for Best Film at the Asian World Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Aurora Award for Best Film at Tromsø Film Festival, the Jury Prize at the MedFilm Festival in Rome, and the Audience Award in Ljubljana IFF in Slovenia, among others. His previous feature documentary Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano (2023), received a post-production grant from the Sundance Institute and premiered in the main competition at Karlovy Vary, where it won a jury special mention and won awards in Rotterdam, Valencia, Rome, San Francisco, Marseille, and beyond. His debut feature documentary The Swing (2018) won multiple awards across Europe and the Arab world. His fiction short film The President’s Visit (2017) won Oscar-qualifying awards and played in over 70 festivals. Aris also works as an editor, with credits including Costa Brava, Lebanon (2021), which won the NETPAC award at the Toronto International Festival, the audience award at the BFI London Film Festival, and the FIPRESCI award at El-Gouna. Connect with Cyril Aris 👉 https://instagram.com/cyrilaris   Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu   Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Filmmaker and artist Ahmed Ghossein discusses his intimate, award-winning work, the unique challenges of producing cinema in Lebanon, and the complex relationship between art, war, and memory. Ghossein, whose films like My Father Is Still a Communist and All This Victory (Jidar Sawt) have garnered international acclaim, delves into his upbringing in southern Lebanon, the influence of his family's audio archives, and the profound split between the cultural realities of Beirut and the rest of the country. He also shares his shift toward black comedy and conceptual art to navigate the surreal post-2019 crisis in Lebanon. 0:00 Introduction2:04 Childhood, Art and Cinema's Role In Growing Up5:00 Growing Up In Nabatieh and the Cultural Scene Across Lebanon7:38 The Divided Reality of War in Beirut Versus the South10:09 The Filmmaker's Role: Capturing Reality vs Stepping Back12:04 A Theater Education at the Lebanese University 16:23 The Success and Intimacy of My Father Is Still a Communist17:21 Dealing With Personal Archive, Memory and Ethical Distance21:03 My Father Is Still a Communist: The Cassettes and the Absence of the Father28:26 The Relationship With Intimate Success and Being "Naked"30:57 Success and Responsibility: Shifting Artistic Tools31:47 The High Stakes of Filmmaking in Lebanon Due to Lack of Funding33:46 All This Victory (Jidar Sawt): A True War Story39:39 The Intention Behind Making Films44:05 Conceptual Art and the Post-2019 Crisis in Lebanon44:55 Art on Economic Crisis: The "How To Make Your Money Sell" Piece47:06 Black Comedy and the Surreal Reality of Lebanon50:39 Post-2019 Obsession With Therapy and Personal Healing52:21 The Surrealism of Real Lebanese News Stories53:15 Where To Watch Ahmed Ghossein's Films Ahmad Ghossein is an artist and a filmmaker whose practice utilizes a number of media, including video art, installation, art in public spaces and film. The starting point of his work stems from the collecting and analyzing of facts, documents, and found footage and materials, which then feed into a body of work that draws on the potentialities of the moving image. His feature film debut All This Victory (2019) won the Grand Prize and the Audience Award at the Venice International Film Critics’s Week. His short film, White Noise, which was produced under the auspices of “Lebanon Factory,” opened the Director’s Fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival 2017. His Video work My Father Is Still a Communist (2011) commissioned by Sharjah at foundation was awarded best short film in Tribeca Doha Film Festival 2011 and was selected by MoMa and Berlinale and several festivals. His other short The Fourth Stage opened the Forum Expanded of the Berlinale Film Festival, Berlinale 2016. He was the co-artistic director of Beirut Art Center (2020-2021) and his work has been exhibited in countless museums and galleries around the world.Connect with Ahmad Ghossein 👉 https://instagram.com/ahmadghossein Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're joined by film critic and president of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), Ahmed Shawky, and delve into the role of film critics in the Arab world. We talk about Shawky's personal journey into critiquing films and the evolution of Arab cinema. Shawky shares insights on iconic Egyptian filmmakers, the impact of global cinema, and his experiences at various film festivals. We touch on the challenges of censorship and the future of the Arab film industry. 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Defining the Role of a Film Critic02:00 Early Influences and Passion for Cinema03:35 The Impact of the Internet on Film Criticism08:42 Starting a Blog and His First Writing Job11:46 Golden Age of Arab Cinema15:55 Challenges of Film Criticism in the Arab World19:57 The Life of a Modern Film Critic25:14 Optimism and Challenges in Arab Cinema29:38 The Role of Film Festivals31:27 The Growth of Filmmakers on the Global Scene32:25 Advice for Arab Film Festivals34:19 Successful Film Festival Models39:47 The Role of Saudi Arabia in the Arab Film Industry48:14 Challenges and Optimism in Censorship52:22 Rapid Fire QuestionsAhmed Shawky is a Tanta-born Egyptian film critic, programmer, and president of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Egyptian film critics association (EFCA). He publishes weekly articles about cinema and entertainment industry, mainly in three major Arabic websites: Filfan.com, Fasllah.com, and Schehrezade.com. He has published eight books Egyptian cinema, and worked for many festivals like El Gouna, Cairo, and Malmo. In 2010, he presented his first film, A Life's Box, then directed The Green Tape, and A Guinea Pig, before making his first documentary, Once Upon a Place.Connect with Shawky 👉 https://www.instagram.com/shawforlifeHosted by:Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gbTheme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Kawalis, we welcome Farah Nabulsi, the acclaimed director and writer behind films like "The Teacher" and the BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated "The Present." Nabulsi shares her powerful journey from her career in finance to filmmaking, highlighting her profound connection to Palestine and the human stories that inspire her work. The conversation delves deep into the reality of life under occupation, unpacking the emotional and political complexities. Nabulsi discusses her creative process, the impact of her films, and the urgent need for empathy and awareness. This episode is a compelling exploration of humanity amid the ongoing atrocities on Palestinians.00:00 Introduction: Understanding the Palestinian Struggle01:11 The Journey of Making a Film About Palestine03:25 A Personal Connection to Palestine03:53 Witnessing the Reality on the Ground06:59 The Emotional Impact of Injustice09:53 From Banking to Filmmaking13:41 The Power of Storytelling26:04 Creating "Today They Took My Son"32:23 The Impact of Short Films34:26 Inspiration Behind "The Present"36:52 The Journey of a Filmmaker37:19 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome38:12 The Birth of a Screenplay38:43 Taking the Director's Seat40:42 Reflecting on the Film's Impact41:22 Navigating Cultural and Personal Challenges42:31 Authenticity and Audience Reception47:28 Nabulsi's Latest Film "The Teacher"47:44 Casting and Collaboration59:59 Exploring Human Dynamics01:04:06 The Role of International Presence01:06:30 Challenges in Distribution and Reception01:11:59 Final Thoughts and Release InformationFarah Nabulsi is a Palestinian-British, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker and human rights advocate. Born, raised and educated in London, Farah began her career as an institutional equity stockbroker. She ended up with a CFA designation at JP Morgan Chase before moving on to build a children-focused business that she ran for 10 years. In 2015, she started working in the film industry and founded Native Liberty Productions, through which she writes, produces and directs fiction films, exploring topics that matter to her. She created a digital resource (oceansofinjustice.com) to deconstruct the Israeli military occupation of Palestine in a way never done before.Connect with Nabulsi 👉 https://www.instagram.com/farah.nabulsi/"The Teacher" will have its US premier on April 11 in NYC and its nation-wide premier on April 18.Watch "Today They Took My Son" 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDZy1VTfL60Hosted by:Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gbTheme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this last episode in 3 Kawalis podcast special zooming in on cinema in the Gulf, Alia Younis hosts associate professor of Culture and Politics at Georgetown Qatar, Firat Oruc, to explore the history of cinema in the Arab Gulf region. Firat delves into the colonial emergence of cinema in the 1930s, highlighting the peculiar British regulations and colonial anxieties tied to film exposure. The discussion covers the significant role of oil companies in establishing cinemas, producing petro-documentaries aimed at showcasing their version of development and modernization. Firat shares his journey of discovering archival documents that shed light on the historical and contemporary aspects of Gulf cinema. Join us as we uncover how cinema has been a powerful force in shaping cultural and political narratives in the Gulf.00:00 Introduction01:58 The Colonial Era of Gulf Cinema03:41 Archival Discoveries and Colonial Anxieties04:26 Colonial Anxiety around Cinema Arrival11:23 Censorship and the Introduction of Cinema23:46 The Role of Oil Companies in Gulf Cinema28:51 Petro-Documentaries and Nation Building40:00 The Influence of Television and Radio47:30 Personal Journey into Gulf Cinema History49:02 Future Research DirectionsFirat Oruc is an associate professor of Culture and Theory at Georgetown University and is currently working on two book projects: one on world literature and the making of modern Turkey, and the other on the cultural and political history of film in the Arabian Peninsula. He is the editor of Sites of Pluralism: Community Politics in the Middle East (Oxford University Press, 2019) and co-editor of Indian Ocean Literary Circularities (Duke University Press, 2022). He is also the author of journal articles that have appeared in Comparative Literature, Film History, HAWWA: Journal of Women of the Middle East and the Islamic World, Journal of World Literature, Criticism, Postcolonial Text, and English Language Notes. At GU-Q, he is co-lead of the Energy Humanities Research Initiative at the Center for International and Regional Studies and Director of the Certificate in Media and Politics program. He is the recipient of research grants from the Qatar National Research Fund, the Doyle Engaging Difference Program, and the Teaching, Learning, and Innovation Summer Institute. He has served as a visiting assistant professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Comparative Literary Studies program at Northwestern University. Professor Oruc received his Ph.D. in literature from Duke University.Hosted by Alia Yunis 👉 https://www.instagram.com/alia__yunis/Alia Yunis is a writer, journalist and filmmaker. She is also a visiting associate professor of film and heritage studies at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns#GulfCinema #ArabFilms #afikraKawalis #FiratOruc #AliaYunis #Colonialism FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What is the Gulf-Kerala connection? This episode of Kawalis is a deep dive into migration, media, and cultural exchange. Filmmaker Alia Yunis hosts associate professor at Azim Premji University, Bindu Menon, as part of a three-episode special on cinema in the Arab Gulf. They navigate the intricate ties between Kerala and the Gulf, delving into the historical and cultural connections shaped by migration and the oil economy of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). From early media exchanges to contemporary creative industries, we discover how migration has influenced media production, consumption, and everyday life from the United Arab Emirates to Qatar. Special focus includes the audio cassette culture, the iconic dhow, and the evolution of Malayalam cinema in the Gulf – highlighting some key players and contributors. Learn how these elements jointly contribute to a shared cultural heritage and media modernity between India and the Gulf region.00:00 Introduction: Kerala's Influence on the Gulf01:07 Meet Bindu Menon02:30 Historical Ties: Kerala and the Gulf07:40 Migration and Media: the 70s to the 90s12:47 The Audio Cassette Revolution25:59 Video Cassettes and Film Culture43:54 The Dhow: A Symbol of Migration52:02 Modern Malayalam Cinema and the Gulf59:09 Conclusion and Reflections (Thumbnail image by https://www.instagram.com/vishpash/)Bindu Menon is Assistant Professor of Media Studies at the School of Arts & Sciences, Azim Premji University, Bangalore. Her research work explores relations between media technologies, publics and politics in India. She is completing her book on the history of cinema and sensory publics in early 20th century South India. Her current research project examines the movement of media objects and forms along the path of migration between Kerala and the Gulf Council Countries with a particular focus on audio technologies, musical genres of love and belonging and devotional and spiritual genres. Through mapping the ark of these sonic registers, she tries to explore questions that are relevant to the formation of political communities. Her research papers on history of cinema, amateur video movements and rap music videos have been published in peer reviewed journals such Biography, Bioscope and the Journal of Creative Communications. She has served as Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi and held post-doctoral positions at International Institute of Asian Studies at Leiden, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies at Shimla and the Centre for Study in Religion and Society, University of Victoria, Canada.Connect with Bindu 👉 https://in.linkedin.com/in/bindu-menon-a785842a?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2FHosted by Alia 👉 https://www.instagram.com/alia__yunis/Alia Yunis is a writer, journalist and filmmaker. She is also a visiting associate professor of film and heritage studies at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discover cinema from the Gulf from its beginnings to the present day. Filmmaker Alia Yunis draws on her rich knowledge of the Arab Gulf’s cinema to give us a full picture of the scene's early days, its current state and what is anticipated for its future. Rejecting the widely held belief that "Arabic film comes from Egypt," Alia paints a picture of a rich regional scene of local storytelling. She constructs the Gulf as a fluid space with shared cultures, invites us to reconsider how we think about the materiality of film and shares her opinions on what comes next for cinema in the digital age. We get a sense of how cinema, film and its audiences are changing in the Gulf and what kinds of stories those audiences are hungry for. Alia also addresses a crucial question about the role of government sponsorship and funding in the kinds of cultural production we see coming out of the region. Finally, putting on a historical lens, we briefly tap into the origins of Gulf cinema during the colonial occupation and by oil companies.This episode is one in a three-part series exploring cinema from the Gulf. Stay tuned for the two upcoming episodes in this sub-series of Kawalis!Alia Yunis is a writer, journalist and filmmaker. She is also a visiting associate professor of film and heritage studies at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi.Connect with Alia 👉 https://www.instagram.com/alia__yunis/Reorienting the Middle East: Film and Digital Media Where the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean Meet, edited by Dale Hudson and Alia Yunis with contributions from a number of academics. Available via Indiana University Press 👉 https://iupress.org/9780253067579/reorienting-the-middle-east/ FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ely Dagher is a Lebanese director, screenwriter and artist known for his Palme D'Or awarded short film Waves '98 and his first feature film The Sea Ahead which had its premiere at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.Connect with Ely 👉 https://www.instagram.com/elydagher/Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59nsHosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gbFOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra#LebaneseFilm #ArabFilm #ArabicFilm #ArabCinema #Beirut FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aflam Sudan's inaugural edition is being held in Nairobi between April 12th and 19th (2024). The co-founders of the festival, Rafa Renas and Brahim "Snoopy" Ahmad, join us on Kawalis to talk about the power of cinema – portraying Sudan through an artist lens that goes beyond images of war and conflict – and give us a brief history of Sudanese cinema. Tapping into a growing global interest in Sudanese film, Rafa and Brahim point to their favorite "classics" from the 70s and the films they're most excited about right now — Beats of Antonov, Talking About Trees and You Will Die at Twenty to name just a few.Brahim ”Snoopy” Ahmad is a director and producer from Khartoum, Sudan. He is the founder of Deep Visions Productions. His short documentary "Journey to Kenya" has been selected for numerous international film festivals, including AMAA, FESPACO, African Film Festival, and Zanzibar Film Festival. It won the Special Jury Award at the Sudan Independent Film Festival 2020 SIFF 6th edition and the audience choice award at Zanzibar international film festival.Rafa Renas is a Sudanese producer based in Khartoum. She produces cross-media campaigns promoting a civil society, integration, and gender issues. She also produces for international media outlets.Brahim Ahmad Snoopy and Rafa Renas are co-founders of Aflam Sudan: A week long celebration of Sudanese cinema, the first edition of which is being hosted at Unseen Nairobi from April 12-19, 2024. There will be screenings of a wide variety of Sudanese films including seven feature films and a selection of shorts, as well as live conversations with some of the directors.Discover more about Aflam Sudan 👉 https://www.unseen-nairobi.com/sudanfestival24#:~:text=Nairobi&text=This%20first%20edition%20of%20Aflam,live%20conversation%20with%20the%20directors.Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59nsHosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gbFOLLOW & RATE THE AFIKRA PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you're looking for a film to watch, Carol shared her favorite Palestinian film recommendations with us 👉https://www.afikra.com/daftarjournal/carol-mansour-film-recommendationsCarol Mansour is an independent documentary filmmaker. She founded Forward Film Production in 2000 in Beirut, Lebanon. With over 25 years in documentary production, Mansour achieved international recognition and honor for her films, with over 50 film festival screenings and official selections worldwide. Her other well-known work includes "Stitching Palestine" and “We Cannot Go There Now, My Dear”.Aida Returnsis a poignant, sometimes sad, sometimes painful, sometimes humorous, often absurd story of a multiple journey: the journey of loss as the director’s mother Aida struggled with losing herself to Alzheimer’s disease, but finding solace in her repeated “returning” to the Yafa and Palestine of her youth; the journey of the loss of a parent; and the ultimate return journey to Yafa where Aida would finally find rest and be herself once more.Connect with Carol 👉https://www.instagram.com/mansourcarol/?hl=en-gbTheme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59nsHosted by: Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gbTHIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORKExplore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=sharedABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.