3 Times Divorced (Palestine & Israel, 2007)
Khitam, a Gaza-born Palestinian woman, was married off in an arranged match to an Israeli Palestinian, followed him to Israel and bore him six children. When her husband divorced her in absentia in the Sharia Muslim court and gained custody of the children, Khitam was left with nothing. Now she is out on a dual battle, the most crucial of her life: against the court which always rules in favor of the husband, and against the state in a last-ditch effort to gain citizenship and reunite with her children.
African Exodus (Sudan, Eritrea, & Israel, 2016)
Since 2006, 60,000 non-Jewish Africans, primarily from Sudan and Eritrea, have fled the wars and dictatorships of their home countries and made their way through Egypt and the Sinai desert into Israel, the Jewish homeland. These Africans, mostly refugees and asylum seekers, have risked their lives in the hope of finding a safe haven until they can return home. Exodus, a documentary film, sheds light on the largely hidden world of Israel’s African refugees.
Against the Government (Egypt, 1992)
Muṣṭafá, a cynical lawyer takes an accident victim's case for his own gain. The accident victim turns out to be his own son and he soon finds himself fighting corrupt Egyptian officials for justice.
Ava (Iran, 2018)
The film is a dark coming-of-age tale of an Iranian teenage girl in Tehran. Based on her own adolescent experiences, Sadaf Foroughi’s Ava introduces the codes and traditions the girls are up against in a strict, traditional society.
Camera/Woman (Morocco, 2012)
A divorced Moroccan woman works as a wedding photographer. This gets her in trouble with her family because she spends most of her time at glamorous weddings and is becoming a source of gossip in her neighborhood.
Capernaum (Lebanon, 2018)
Capernaum is about the journey of a clever, gutsy 12-year-old boy, Zain, who survives the dangers of the city streets by his wits. He flees his parents and to assert his rights, takes them to court suing them for the "crime" of giving him life.
Caramel (Lebanon, 2008)
A Beirut beauty salon becomes a treasured meeting place for several generations of women from various walks of life to talk, seek advice and confide in one another.
Casablanca Calling (Morocco, 2014)
Casablanca Calling highlights a quiet social revolution under way in Morocco, where 60% of the women have never attended school. For the first time, Moroccan women are trained and employed as official Muslim leaders, or morchidat. Offering unique access to a story we rarely see, this illuminating documentary demonstrates how women's empowerment through moderate Islam is transforming a nation
#ChicagoGirl: The Social Network Takes on a Dictator (Syria & USA, 2013)
From her childhood bedroom in suburban Chicago, Ala'a, a 19-year-old American girl, coordinates the revolution in Syria. Armed with Facebook, Twitter, Skype and camera phones, she helps her social network in Syria brave snipers and shelling in the streets to show the world the human rights atrocities of a dictator.
Chronicle of the Years of Embers (Algeria, 1975)
The story follows a peasant's migration from his drought-stricken village to his eventual participation with the Algerian resistance movement, just prior to the outbreak of the Algerian War of Independence.
Daughter of Keltoum (Algeria, 2001)
A young Swiss woman travels to her birthplace - an isolated, barren Berber settlement in the mountainous desert landscape of Algeria - to find her biological mother, who she has never met. The perilous journey immerses her in a world virtually untouched by contemporary society, one that still clings to tribal mores and strict religious codes of conduct.
Encounter in Ramallah (Israel & Palestine, 1997)
Two young soldiers, an Israeli and an Arab, encounter one another on a street. Both fire their automatic weapons. Both are wounded. From this starting point, the filmmakers explore the lives of the young men and the age-old conflict in which they are caught. The documentary gives a close-up, human view of the gulf separating the two opposing factions.
For Sama (Syria, 2019)
Unfolding as a love letter from filmmaker and young mother Waad al-Kateab to her daughter, For Sama tells the story of Waad's life through five years of the uprising in rebel-held Aleppo, Syria. Waad falls in love, gets married and gives birth to her daughter Sama—all while filming the cataclysmic conflict raging around them.
Freedom Fields (Libya, 2018)
In post-revolution Libya, a group of women are brought together by one dream: playing football for their nation. As the country descends into civil war and the utopian hopes of the "Arab Spring" begin to fade, can they realize their dream?
Frontline. Children of Syria (Syria, 2016)
Follow four Syrian children from the Assad regime’s siege of their home city of Aleppo, to the devastating kidnapping of their father, to the beginning of their new lives as refugees in Germany. This is a story of war, grief, and hope.
Gaza Strip (Palestine, 2002)
American filmmaker James Longley follows a range of Palestinian Arabs living in the Gaza Strip and events following the election of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, including the first major armed incursion by the Israeli Army (IDF) forces in spring 2001.
Ghost Hunting (Palestine & Israel, 2017)
In order to confront the ghosts that haunt him, Palestinian director Raed Andoni assembles an eclectic group of ex-prisoners to build a replicate of Al-Moskobiya, Israel’s main interrogation center, where he was himself jailed at age 18. From fragmentary memory, day after day, they give shape to the interrogation center they all experienced and re-enact its stories.
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib (Iraq & USA, 2007)
This program investigates how and why the atrocities of Abu Ghraib took place as well as their long-term implications. The program features the voices of Iraqi victims-interviewed in Turkey after arduous attempts to meet with them-and now-penitent guards directly involved in torture at the prison.
Hiyya Fawda: La Chaos (Egypt, 2007)
Hatem, a shady police officer, rules with an iron hand. Every single citizen fears and hates him. Only Nour, a young woman he lusts after, dares stand up to him. But Nour is secretly in love with Cherif. Green with envy, Hatem tries to come between them.
Holy Fire (Israel & Palestine, 2008)
The Old City of Jerusalem is in the heart of the Middle East conflict. Measuring just a single square kilometer, people from three of the world's great religions rub shoulders in four distinct quarters, and houses built on top of each other nestle against some of the holiest sites in the world. On top of the Temple Mount, a group of Palestinian children practice throwing stones, while beneath them an orthodox Jew plans to rebuild the Jewish Temple.
Iraqi Refugees Hard Way Home (Syria & Iraq, 2012)
With their financial resources dwindling and no hope of finding employment, life is increasingly difficult for Syria's Iraqi refugees. Many families have little choice now but to go back home and contend with the chaos that awaits them there. Through the stories of these three highly skilled, once-successful people, this film puts a human face on the plight of Iraqi refugees.
Ireland’s Refugee Hotel (Ireland, 2017)
Two worlds meet when a small town in Ireland becomes the new home for hundreds of Syrian asylum seekers, brought over from refugee camps in Greece. We follow the story of Ghassan, 20, newly arrived in Ireland after a two-year long journey from Syria.
ISIS, Tomorrow: The Lost Souls of Mosul (Iraq, 2018)
ISIS, Tomorrow follows the destiny of the surviving families of the fighters in the complexity of the post - war period in which battle blood leaves room for daily revenge and retaliation, for violence as the only response to violence.
It Will be Chaos (Mediterranean, 2018)
An epic, yet intimate and heartbreaking portrait of lives in transit from all sides, It Will Be Chaos unfolds between Italy and the Balkan corridor, focusing on two unforgettable refugee stories of human strength and resilience in search for a better and safer future.
Jasad & The Queen of Contradictions (Lebanon, 2011)
Lebanese poet and writer Joumana Haddad has stirred controversy in the Middle East for having founded "Jasad" (the Body), an erotic quarterly Arabic-language magazine. This movie tackles the subject of sexuality in Lebanon, giving insight on the rare use of the Arabic language to discuss sex and erotica.
Jenin Jenin (Israel, 2002)
This film includes testimony from Jenin residents after the Israeli army's Defensive Wall operation, during which the city and camp were the scenes of fierce fighting.
Lebanon Caught in Between (Lebanon, 2012)
In southern Lebanon, the wounds of 22 years of Israeli occupation are still fresh. Isolated from the rest of the country, the population was forced to choose between two rival militias: the South Lebanon Army (Israel's Lebanese allies) or the newly emerging Hezbollah. When Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, its SLA supporters found themselves vilified as collaborators. This moving documentary tells the stories of Maha and Pierre, who had sided with the SLA, and DeGaulle and Ali, members of Hezbollah, providing insight into the political forces shaping Lebanon today.
Lemon Tree (Palestine, 2009)
Salma, a Palestinian widow - living there for decades -, has to stand up against her new neighbor, the Israeli Defense Minister, when he moves into his new house opposite her lemon grove, on the green line border between Israel and the West Bank.
Libya (Libya, 2012)
Photojournalist Michael Christopher Brown revisits Libya after the Libyan Civil War, which he was injured in. He explores the remaining conflicts and interviews survivors of the war with gruesome stories. Brown also reflects on the death of his colleagues that were photographing the Libyan Civil War in April 2011.
Miral (Palestine, 2010)
After she rescues dozens of children who survived a massacre in Jerusalem in 1948, Palestinian Hind Husseini establishes an orphanage that helps thousands of other children left homeless by violence. But the success of her peace-through-education institution is tested when pupil Miral gets a taste of radical politics in the region's refugee camps.
Naila and the Uprising (Palestine, 2017)
When a nation-wide uprising breaks out in 1987, a woman in Gaza must make a choice between love, family, and freedom. Undaunted, she embraces all three, joining a clandestine network of women in a movement that forces the world to recognize the Palestinian right to self-determination for the first time.
Nasser 56 (Egypt, 1996)
Nasser 56' is a 1996 Egyptian historical film directed by Mohamed Fadel. The film focuses on the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt's second President, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and the subsequent invasion of Egypt by Israel, the United Kingdom, and France.
Not Who We Are (Syria, 2013)
"Not Who We Are" portrays the lives of five women refugees, from different socio-educational backgrounds. In Lebanon they struggle against life's daily brutality and try to rebuild lives shattered by war. They provide us with a glimpse into their daily hardships as well as their strength, resilience, and survival instinct.
Olive Harvest (Palestine & Israel, 2003)
The story of two Palestinian brothers who love the same woman, set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Paradise Now (Palestine, 2006)
Two best friends, Said and Khaled, are recruited to cross into Israel and blow themselves up. When they are intercepted at the Israeli border, a young woman who discovers their plan causes them to reconsider their actions.
Rana’s Wedding (Palestine & Israel, 2002)
A Palestinian girl has only 10 hours to both find and marry her boyfriend in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. The uncertainty of her father's approval adds further difficulty.
Salt of this Sea (Palestine, 2009)
Soraya, born in Brooklyn in a working-class community of Palestinian refugees, discovers that her grandfather's savings were frozen in a bank account in Jaffa when he was exiled in 1948. Direct, stubborn, and determined to reclaim what is hers, she fulfills her life-long dream of "returning" to Palestine. Slowly she is taken apart by the reality around her and is forced to confront her own anger.
Satin Rouge (Tunisia, 2003)
A Tunisian widow embarks on a journey of self-discovery when she investigates a suspected liaison between her headstrong teenaged daughter and a cabaret musician, and is drawn into the world of cabaret belly dancers and nocturnal pleasure-seekers.
Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story (Egypt, 2009)
A female talk show host in Cairo stirs up political controversy when she focuses her on-air discussions on the topic of women's issues.
Tale of the Three Jewels (Palestine, 1995)
Yussef is a twelve-year-old boy who lives in an imaginary world of his own and often escapes from the surrounding violence to the beautiful Gaza countryside. Yussef meets Aida and falls in love, but before he can marry her he must find three jewels.
Terrorism and BBQ (Egypt, 2008)
A government employee wants to find a school closer to home for his children. When he goes to the Education Administration Dept. at the Tahrir Complex, he is mistaken for a terrorist and demands a large quantity of food.
The Extras (Syria, 1993)
Initially banned in Syria, this is the story of a young couple's courtship and how the lack of personal freedom affects them.
The Green Prince (Israel & Palestine, 2014)
Set against the chaotic backdrop of recent events in the Middle East, The Green Prince retraces the details of a highly unprecedented partnership that developed between sworn enemies. In the style of a tense psychological thriller, this extraordinary documentary recounts the true story of the son of a Hamas leader who emerged as one of Israel's prized informants, and the Shin Bet agent who risked his career to protect him.
The Insult (Lebanon, 2017)
An Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, this film depicts an incident between a Palestinian refugee and a Lebanese Christian, resulting in a trial with lasting effects on dividing the represented communities.
The Square (Egypt, 2013)
The people demand the downfall of the regime! The Square is one of the most awarded documentaries of the past decade. The film is an in-depth firsthand look at the Egyptian Revolution, chronicling the fall of two presidents in a row.
The Tornado (Lebanon, 1992)
Beirut, civil war. There are checkpoints, arbitrary executions, car bombs, machine guns, handguns, funeral processions, ambushes, hot heads, vendettas, and revenge. Cruelty and death are everywhere. Akram, who's been studying in Russia, is back in Beirut on holiday and plans to visit his mother in his home village. But can he get there?
These Girls (Egypt, 2006)
This documentary film follows a band of teenage girls living on the streets of Cairo.
Wadjda (Saudi Arabia, 2013)
"Wadjda, a fun-loving 10-year-old girl living in Saudi Arabia, has her heart set on a beautiful new bicycle. However, her mother won't allow it, fearing repercussions from a society that sees bicycles as dangerous to a girl's virtue. Determined to turn her dreams into reality and buy the bike on her own, Wadjda uncovers the contradictions and opportunities ingrained in her world.
War Child (Sudan, 2010)
This award-winning documentary chronicles the shocking, but inspiring odyssey of Emmanuel Jal. A former child soldier of Sudan's brutal civil war, he is now an international hip-hop star sharing a message of peace for his war-torn land. From rare archive of Jal as a seven-year-old soldier to MTV videos of Jal performing pain-tinged rhymes, an indomitable spirit shines through.
We Loved Each Other So Much (Lebanon, 2008)
For nearly half a century, the Lebanese singer Hoda Nouhad Haddad, better known as Fairuz, has been a living legend in the Arab world. The film tells the stories of diverse Beirut inhabitants who, regardless of their political or religious affiliations, have always felt a deep emotional connection with Fairuz and her music, which expresses such universal themes as romantic longing, family attachments, nostalgia for simpler times and love of country
We Who Remain (Sudan, 2017)
The story of a region cut off from the world, "We Who Remain” ushers the viewer into the heart of a forgotten conflict in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. The first character-driven VR film shot in an active conflict zone, the story focuses on the students, mothers, journalists, and rebels who struggle to improve their lives in the midst of a war that shows no signs of ending.
Women of Hamas (Palestine, 2010)
While the most prominent members of the controversial organization Hamas are men, most of its field work is carried out by cadres of women supporters. These women of Hamas are the most powerful women in the Palestinian territories. Focusing on three such women, this film probes at their ideological commitment to the movement and gives us an insight into the work of those who remain in the shadows.
Women Pioneers Collection (Arab World, 2005)
This 12 hour-long film series explores the impact a number of remarkable women have made on the Arab world in a variety of fields throughout the early part of the twentieth century.
Yemen: Chaos in Silence (Yemen, 2018)
After three years of war, Yemen is facing its most serious humanitarian crisis since the end of the Second World War. From Aden in the south to Sanaa in the north, this film explores a devastated country eroded by political and religious divisions and ravaged by cholera.