AlJaw N°103

Azza Aboualam has been appointed curator of the United Arab Emirates Pavilion for the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale, making her the first Emirati woman to hold this position.

A professor at Zayed University, Aboualam was selected following an open call to academics and artists. She explained that her proposal had been carefully crafted to reflect the UAE’s knowledge and material culture. She hinted that the pavilion might explore “local food production methods and their links to architecture and the environment.”

Aboualam contributed as a researcher to Showpiece City: How Architecture Made Dubai (2020) and Building Sharjah (2021). She is also the co-founder of Holesum Studio, based in Sharjah and New York, which she established in 2021 with her fellow Yale University graduates, Dimitri Brand and James Coleman.

Rabat has won the 2024 UN-Habitat Honor Award for its efforts in sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life for its residents. This award was presented on World Habitat Day in Querétaro, Mexico, in recognition of the Moroccan capital’s exemplary initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11, which focuses on sustainable cities.

The city notably transformed its public spaces to promote social inclusion, culture, and sports. Highlighted projects include the creation of 175 neighborhood sports fields, which allow young people to engage in sports activities, improving well-being and fostering inclusion. Rabat also organized cultural and sports events, such as the "Rabat Youth" competition in 2023, which brought together over 8,700 participants, illustrating the positive impact of these initiatives on the local community.

These achievements reflect the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who strives to harmonize culture, sustainable development, and social inclusion. The city is committed to offering an improved living environment by focusing on human-centered approaches, while fostering community engagement and strengthening access to social services for all its citizens.

The famous Beirut club, Skybar, has transformed into a refuge for the displaced. In response to the recent wave of violence that has struck Lebanon, this space, once a symbol of the capital's nightlife and glamour, has been repurposed to shelter displaced families. This initiative is part of a humanitarian crisis response, where iconic Beirut locations are being reinvented to meet the urgent needs of the population. Although this adaptation is temporary, it demonstrates the solidarity of the residents in the face of the city’s challenges.

Skybar, known for its festive events and emblematic views of the Mediterranean, modified its structure to offer shelter to those in need. Rooms that were once used for social events have been transformed into reception areas, providing mattresses, food, and essential supplies to Lebanese and refugee families. The initiative is supported by a network of volunteers and local NGOs, who work to ensure the effective management of this temporary relief space, showcasing the adaptability of public spaces in times of crisis.

This transformation also raises questions about the future of Beirut’s iconic venues. Skybar, once synonymous with celebration and modernity, is now a symbol of resilience and solidarity. For many Beirutis, this act reflects the spirit of the city, capable of reinventing itself even in the darkest times. The article also highlights the uncertainty surrounding the longevity of such initiatives, as Lebanon’s economic and political situation remains fragile, and humanitarian needs continue to grow.

The Mustaqbal Prize, created by the TGCC Foundation in 2021, aims to encourage and promote emerging Moroccan artists by offering them development opportunities and visibility. It provides young artists with recognition, financial support, and artistic residencies.

This 4th edition, titled Untitled, is open to all mediums, marking a turning point in the prize’s history by breaking down artistic boundaries and giving more freedom to the candidates. "Initially dedicated to painting and drawing, then expanded to photography, this prize continues to broaden its horizons each year. For this edition, the inclusion of installations, in addition to the previously explored mediums, marks an important step. This commitment aims to support the diversity of expressions and to encourage the multidisciplinary practices of young artists," said Meryem Bouzoubaa, president of the TGCC Foundation (Diptyk).

This year, out of more than 200 applications, 16 visual artists, across all disciplines, were shortlisted by jury members. According to Hassan Sefrioui, founder of the Shart Gallery and a jury member since the first edition, the common theme among the presented works remains the youth's questioning of their place and individuality in an ultra-digitalized and globalized world.

The new edition also focuses on establishing international partnerships to offer Moroccan artists residencies abroad, particularly in Europe and Africa. This approach aims to enhance the visibility of the winners beyond Morocco’s borders and integrate them into global artistic networks, thus contributing to the internationalization of the Moroccan contemporary art scene. Among these collaborations is a partnership with the Montresso* Foundation in Marrakech, offering winners an artistic residency at the Jardin Rouge, a space dedicated to contemporary creation where artists can develop their practices in a professional and inspiring environment. The TGCC Foundation is also partnering with the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in Marrakech, one of the major events for contemporary African art. The winners of the Mustaqbal Prize will have the opportunity to present their works at this event, allowing them to connect with an international network of collectors, galleries, and art professionals.

For this fourth edition of the Mustaqbal Prize, three laureates have been distinguished: Kamil Bouzoubaa-Grivel won first prize with his two series of drawings exploring techniques such as halftoning, using oil-based inks to create dense and shiny blacks. Yasmine Hadni took second place, and Kamil Tahiri the third. The laureates will benefit from an artistic residency at Jardin Rouge, and Bouzoubaa-Grivel will have a solo exhibition at Artorium in 2025.

Saudi artist Mohammad Alfaraj is showcasing for the first time the results of his 2021 artist residency in AlUla at the Orbis Tertius exhibition, presented at Art Basel Paris since October 18, 2023, at the Grand Palais.

Alfaraj's journey has not been linear. Although he studied mechanical engineering at King Fahd University in Dhahran, his interest in film and photography led him toward art. His background in materials science made him sensitive to the inherent life of inanimate objects, a perception that permeates his work. Describing himself as a "visual poet," Alfaraj captures materialized poems in objects that can be touched and felt in his art.

Alfaraj's works are inspired by agriculture. For him, every element finds a use—nothing is wasted. This philosophy is evident in his stop-motion film The Date Fruit of Knowledge, a central piece in his installation at Art Basel. The film, drawn in the sands of AlUla's palm groves, tells the story of a knowledge-hungry nightingale, inspired by Quranic stories and universal mythologies. The nightingale, made from dates, embodies the relentless pursuit of knowledge, which turns into a curse when it discovers all that was, is, and will be. The film's message is a reminder that destruction or salvation can come from our own actions.

Alfaraj’s installations at Art Basel blend film, illustrations, and natural materials, including palm fronds that form the wings of a bird. The paper used for his drawings is made from palm tree waste, as is the ink, reflecting his desire to transform found objects into new works of art.

In addition to his exhibitions in Paris, Alfaraj is preparing for a new show in Dubai.

The exhibition “Beirut Prints” at the Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF) runs from October 6 to December 28, 2024, in Beirut, focusing on the evolution and impact of printing techniques in the Arab world. The exhibition seeks to reevaluate the role of prints in modern and contemporary Arab art, a medium often overshadowed by painting or sculpture. The exhibition presents a variety of works that illustrate not only technical skill but also the social and political evolution of the region through the lens of printmaking.

Among the featured artists is Shafiq Abboud, known for his abstract compositions that merge form and color. His prints are revisited to explore personal and cultural themes. Walid Abu Shakra highlights Palestinian landscapes and realities through his prints. The exhibition celebrates these artists, showcasing their ability to capture intimate stories and social issues through printmaking techniques.

Some artists have preferred to use engraving as a visual experimentation tool. Palestinian artist Kamal Boullata, for instance, used silkscreen to experiment with Arabic letters and shapes. Boullata was a central figure in the Hurufiyya movement, which sought to further explore the abstractions found in Islamic art.

The works of Iraqi artist Suad Al Attar may be less abstract but equally impressive. Her "Green Paradise" demonstrates her mastery of color printing on paper. Ayman's lithographs resonate with the current situation in Beirut, showing the destruction that has affected the city during the civil war, with black ink prints of ruined houses and landscapes of rubble.

Another aspect of the exhibition consists of filmed interviews that provide invaluable resources on the techniques and history of printmaking. Four films feature interviews with artists Mohammad Rawas, Samira Badran, Said Baalbaki, and Zeina Badran. These interviews will be available on the Dalloul Art Foundation website.

The exhibition Awakening of Dreams (sixth edition) is held at the Wajdan Gallery at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman. It was inaugurated on October 1, 2024, under the patronage of Princess Rajwa bint Ali and runs until October 10, curated by Khaldoun Hijazin. This is a women-led artistic event featuring six artists: Amal Sobeh, Dalia Ali, Raeda Shahin, Rana Safadi, Reem Khader, and Shereen Al-Ouran. Twenty percent of the proceeds from sales will be donated to support early screenings for women in precarious situations.

The exhibition explores the theme of land and its stories through various techniques, ranging from oil painting, digital collages, to installations using mixed materials. Each artist expresses a unique vision of their connection to the land and cultural memory, resonating with the heritage and landscapes of the region.

Amal Sobeh’s works stand out for their human emotions inspired by the beauty of nature. She uses soft and transparent colors to create harmonious landscapes, notably fields of violet flowers mixed with green, yellow, and orange, giving a sense of calm. Her canvases, constructed like musical gradations, invite contemplation and evoke an inner journey of the soul in communion with the land.

Dalia Ali, on the other hand, takes an abstract approach to representing Palestinian cities, especially Jerusalem. Influenced by her background in architecture, she plays with lines and shapes to recreate these cities as living memories. She uses varied materials such as acrylic, newspaper clippings, sand, and graphic patterns, also integrating elements of Arabic calligraphy to express Palestinian identity and heritage.

Rana Al-Safadi highlights cities that deeply resonate with her through oil painting techniques on canvas. She explores the cultural and human components of the places she represents, creating works with textured reliefs and soothing colors. Her work focuses on large blocks of color and human groups integrated into these urban landscapes.

Raeda Shaheen uses an abstract style, playing with the interaction of geometric shapes and colors. Her works often consist of layered patterns, creating multiple dimensions that give the impression of paintings within paintings. She favors cold colors and minimalist strokes to give an impression of calm.

Reem Khader combines modern technology with artistic expression to create collages rich in symbols. She uses artificial intelligence and hand painting to craft works that explore themes related to contemporary human life, with layered details to express complex ideas about existence.

Lastly, Shereen Al-Ouran questions the symbolic role of women in society. The artist uses visual elements that express positive emotions such as compassion, love, and protection, illustrating the intimate connection between women and the land. Her work seeks to convey a message of strength and continuity, emphasizing the importance of women as guardians of memory and cultural heritage. The details and distinctive features she uses aim to draw the viewer's attention and spark reflection on the place of women in both historical and contemporary contexts.

The Qatari pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale 2024 in South Korea highlights a selection of contemporary Qatari artists and those from the Gulf region, aiming to illustrate the diversity and richness of local cultures while addressing global themes. This participation is part of Qatar's initiatives to promote Middle Eastern art and culture on the international stage.

The works presented explore various subjects such as identity, migration, and the impact of climate change on local communities, resonating with contemporary global issues. The artists use innovative techniques to interact with the audience, blending technology with traditional art, offering an immersive experience. The pavilion aims to encourage intercultural dialogue by linking local concerns to global inquiries, positioning art as a privileged medium for collective reflection.

The exhibition "Knock, Rain, Knock" is divided into four chapters and presents artworks by seven Qatari artists. The first chapter showcases the Qatari landscape through works by Fatima Abbas and Farah Al Sidiky.

Abbas’s "Glimpse of Rain" recounts the Qatari climate and its challenges, painting a portrait of the country’s lands. Al Sidiky’s video installation "Place of Abandon" bears witness to this, reflecting on human interactions and the desert over time, and the potential these places hold for humanity’s future.

The second chapter, "Pray," focuses on "Salat al-Istisqaa," and features works by Sara Al Naimi and Hind Al Saad. Al Naimi's triptych depicts the journey and life of the Arab people before the Salat al-Istisqaa, through a Nabati poem by Mohsen bin Othman Al Hazani. Alongside it is Al Saad's kinetic installation, which revolves around one of the prayer’s verses, using light and water effects.

Guillaume Rouseré's immersive installation "After the Rain" belongs to the third chapter, "Receive," and reveals the interaction between humanity and nature, exploring the importance of water in Qatar.

In the final chapter, "Supporter," Abdulrahman Al Muftah and Nada Elkharashi analyze the aftermath of rain. Al Muftah's "Rain on Materiality" examines the effect of rain on Qatar's urban environment, while Elkharashi’s oasis "Al-Faga’a" celebrates the delicate balance between human intervention and nature.

Since the launch of her eponymous brand in September 2019, British-Iraqi designer Tara Babylon has been redefining eveningwear with an avant-garde aesthetic. Her creations draw inspiration from her rich cultural heritage, particularly the ancient city of Babylon, as well as her personal experiences. A finalist for the Fashion Trust Arabia award in the eveningwear category, Babylon incorporates vibrant textures, bold colors, and innovative materials.

She takes inspiration from the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which translates into unique designs such as a linen-blend dress with handwoven cuffs, a cotton scarf adorned with sculptural roses, or an elastic-woven plaid. Tara Babylon distinguishes herself through her unconventional approach to couture, transforming mundane items—like safety pins—into luxurious embellishments.

Babylon is also involved in projects in China, where she teaches some of her weaving techniques and the use of safety pins. A finalist for the Fashion Trust Arabia award, she views this recognition as an opportunity to bring international visibility to designers from the region, while highlighting the importance of education and acknowledgment for emerging talents.

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, the Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF) concluded its 11th edition with a closing ceremony under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. This year’s guest of honor was Palestine.

Amakor, directed by Ahmed Al-Khodary (Kuwait), won the award for Best Feature Film, while Mar Mama, by Magdy Al-Omari (Palestine), was recognized as the Best Arab Short Film. Hooves, directed by Fargul Masroorad and Hossein Zeitounejad, received the award for Best International Short Film, and The Seven Waves, directed by Asma Bseiso (Palestine, Jordan), was awarded Best Documentary.

Sofia El Khyari est nommée marraine du Mois du film d’animation par l’Institut français du Maroc. Elle présente quatre courts-métrages dans plusieurs sites de l’institut jusqu’au 11 octobre. Ses films donnent à voir sur l’écran des techniques variées, avec l’utilisation de l’aquarelle, du papier découpé, de l’encre ou encore de la photographie.

Who is Sofia El Khyari? A multi-award-winning visual artist and director of animated films, Sofia El Khyari was born in Casablanca in 1992. She studied cultural management in Paris, where she also taught herself animation, before earning a master's degree in animation from the Royal College of Art in London. Her short films have won awards and been screened at more than 150 international festivals, including the Locarno Festival, TIFF in Toronto, Annecy Animation Festival, FESPACO (Burkina Faso), and FICAM (Morocco).

The short films screened this October:

• "The Shadow of Butterflies" (2022): In a mysterious forest, a woman is slowly drawn into a nostalgic daydream while watching butterflies.
• "The Porous Body" (2018): A young woman goes to the sea to reflect on her life. When she dives into the water, she finds herself submerged by a flood of thoughts within her.
• "Ayam" (2017): Three generations of Moroccan women share moments while preparing for the traditional Aïd al-Adha ceremony.
• "The Grain of Your Skin" (2015): The tale of a delicate, mysterious flower woman born in the hot sands of the desert.

National Film Festival of Tangier (October 18–26, 2024) presents a rich program featuring Arab films in various categories.

Films in the Long Fiction Competition:

• "Kissat Wafaa" – Directed by Abdelali Tahiri
• "Empreintes du vent" – Directed by Layla Triqui
• "Hôtel de la paix" – Directed by Jamal Belmejdoub
• "Que d’amour" – Directed by Kamal Kamal
• "Silence des violons" – Directed by Saad Chraibi
• "Triple A" – Directed by Jihane El Bahhar
• "Journal intime" – Directed by Mohamed Chrif Tribak
• "Moroccan Bada$$ Girl" – Directed by Hicham Lasri
• "La dernière répétition" – Directed by Yassine Fennane
• "Animalia" – Directed by Sofia Alaoui
• "Elwatra" – Directed by Driss Roukhe
• "A Corpse on the Shore" – Directed by Mohammed Faouzi Aksel
• "Déserts" – Directed by Faouzi Bensaïdi
• "Meutes" – Directed by Kamal Lazraq

Films in the Short Fiction and Documentary Competition:

• "Beneath a Mother’s Feet" – Directed by Elias Suhail
• "Frères de lait" – Directed by Kenza Tazi
• "Le Dernier Jour" – Directed by Lakhdar El Hamdaoui
• "Fils des Amazones" – Directed by Otman Salil
• "Frère" – Directed by Younes Bouab
• "Mode d’avion" – Directed by Mohamed Amine El Ahmar
• "Jours gris" – Directed by Abir Fathouni
• "Pour moi" – Directed by Intissar El Azhari
• "Silent Sighs" – Directed by Meryem Jabbour
• "Rachid" – Directed by Rachida El Garani
• "Nejma" – Directed by Abdellah Elmoukadem
• "Yenna – The Bread Crust" – Directed by Ayoub Ait Bihi
• "A Lamb, A Sheep and Ravens" – Directed by Aymane Hammou
• "Waking Up" – Directed by Saad Benidir

Films in the Long Documentary Competition:

• "Mora est là" – Directed by Khalid Zairi
• "The Mother of All Lies" – Directed by Asmae El Moudir
• "Better" – Directed by Kamal Ourahou
• "Larbi, Justo... et les autres" – Directed by Abdelhamid Karim and Leila El Amine Demnati
• "Water Master" – Directed by Fouad Souiba
• "Jauk El Maleh" – Directed by Hassan Benjelloun
• "Cubaraouis" – Directed by Aziz Khouadir
• "Bubbles" – Directed by Hassan Maanany
• "Knife on Canvas" – Directed by Oumaima Elachy
• "Palace Guardians" – Directed by Aida Bouya
• "Trois lunes derrière une colline" – Directed by Abdellatif Fdil
• "Khaymat Rag" – Directed by Sidi Mohamed Fadil Eljoummani
• "Chayaa" – Directed by Zaynab Toubali
• "Tilimzoune Mémoire du Sahara" – Directed by Ahmed Bouchalga
• "Le gagne-pain des roses" – Directed by Mounia El Goumi

A flagship event of the Arab Cinema and Media Institute, the Arab Film Festival is the oldest and largest independent festival of its kind in North America. Launched in 1996, the festival’s mission is to present the best contemporary films that highlight the richness of Arab culture through authentic stories and images, offering a glimpse into the beauty and complexity of the Arab world.

The 28th edition takes place from October 24 to November 3, 2024, both in-person across the San Francisco Bay Area and online. The full lineup can be found here. The physical program, for those lucky enough to attend, can be accessed hereThe physical program, for those lucky enough to attend, can be accessed here.

The festival will be opened by the film A Letter to Gaza by Mohamed Jabaly, produced by Watermelon Pictures, the new production company launched by Alana Hadid, which focuses on Palestinian independent cinema. The autobiographical film, Life is Beautiful, which was recently awarded at the Geneva Human Rights Festival, tells the story of a Palestinian filmmaker stranded in Norway and unable to return to see his family in Gaza.

Mohamed Jabaly is a filmmaker, producer, and artist from Gaza. He arrived in Norway in 2014 and has since made a name for himself in the international film industry. His debut feature documentary, Ambulance, was screened at some of the world’s top film festivals and won several awards, including the One World Media Award for Best Feature Documentary at the BAFTAs in 2017, the BBC Arabic Young Journalist Award, and the SunBird Award at Days of Cinema in Palestine, among others.

The opening night will feature special performances by Palestinian artist Llunr and Palestinian rapper MC Abdul. For those interested in learning more about Palestine, its history, and its people, the AFMF’s Palestinian Voices program offers a year-round exploration of Palestinian heritage, accessible at https://arabfilminstitute.org/palestinian-voices/.

The Lebanese Film Festival returns for its fourth edition in the French capital, from October 13 to 20, at the Cinema Le Lincoln. The president of the event, Sarah Hajjar, stressed that holding this festival during the difficult period that Lebanon is currently experiencing was an absolute necessity: “Faced with the tragedy in which Lebanon is once again plunged, talking about this constantly scarred country is more necessary than ever. Instead of letting the war silence us, we continue to mobilize in support of the Lebanese people and Lebanese creativity.”

This edition offers the opportunity to discover no less than forty films, including twenty-five short films and about ten premieres. Filmmaker and photographer Danielle Arbid is the president and patron of this edition. She is known for her films such as Simple Passion, Parisienne, A Lost Man, and In the Battlefields.

The full program can be found here.

This year, the film lineup is accompanied by an exhibition dedicated to kinetic photography, entitled Au Fil du Temps (Over Time), also held at Cinema Le Lincoln. This exhibition questions the boundaries between still and moving images, increasingly blurred in recent years, thus exploring the divide between photography and cinema. The exhibition is divided into two parts: The Dance of Elements, which explores the four elements – fire, wind, earth, and water – through the lens, and Blurred Bodies, focusing on the dynamics of bodies in motion.

Partner Events:

The French release of the documentary Dancing on a Volcano by Cyril Aris, which focuses on the shooting of the feature film Costa Brava directed by Mounia Akl in the aftermath of the double explosion at the Port of Beirut, during the economic crisis and just months after the thaoura and the coronavirus pandemic.

The theater play Let’s Talk, It’s Time, written and performed by Philippe Aractingi,revisits his memories in various artistic languages. Acclaimed in Lebanon, it will run at the Essaïon Theater from September 17 to October 29.

The 49th edition of the Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival (Cinemed) takes place from October 18 to 26, 2024. This year, Gaza is represented through various films in the festival program, highlighting the region's realities and stories.

Selected films include Voyage to Gaza by Italian director Piero Osperti, Vibrations of Gaza by Palestinian filmmaker Rehab Nazzal, and The Tomb of Drunken Love, co-directed by Lebanese filmmakers Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas. These films reflect a wide array of perspectives on Gaza, blending personal experiences with collective narratives.

"Trip to Gaza" (Piero Usberti, Italy): This documentary follows the Italian director during a three-month stay in Gaza in the spring of 2018. It focuses on the lives of young Palestinians, exploring their hopes, daily struggles, and resistance under the conditions imposed by the Israeli blockade. Usberti sheds light on characters like Sara, a humanitarian worker; Mohanad, a communist activist; and Jumana, a law student. Through their stories, he aims to depict a Gaza that contrasts with common media portrayals, highlighting the reality of occupation and the fight for human rights.

"Vibrations of Gaza" (Rehab Nazzal, Palestine): This experimental film captures the daily life of Gaza's residents by focusing on the city’s sounds and vibrations as a means of portraying the prevailing tensions and hopes. The Palestinian director uses her work to showcase the beauty and tragedy of Gaza while emphasizing the importance of collective memory and culture as tools of resistance.

"The Tomb of Drunken Love" (Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas, Lebanon): This feature film blurs the line between art and political reality, narrating an impossible love story set against the backdrop of conflict. The two directors, known for their poetic and politically engaged approach, examine the impact of struggles and wars on human relationships, exploring the intersection of collective and individual memory.

The 12th edition of the International Arab Film Festival of Oran is held in Algeria from October 7 to 10, 2024. This festival showcases a variety of Arab films in several categories, including feature films, documentaries, and short films. The event provides a platform for filmmakers to explore social, political, and humanitarian themes, gathering works from different regions of the Arab world.

Feature films:

• Wadi Al-Manfa (The Valley of Exile) – Directed by Mustafa Al-Nasser (Syria).
• Al-Murhaqun (The Exhausted) – Directed by Najeeb Abdo (Yemen).
• Ard Al-Intiqam (Land of Vengeance) – Directed by Anis Joud (Algeria).
• Fata Al-Jabal (The Boy from the Mountain) – Directed by Zainab Shahin (United Arab Emirates).
• Ikhtiyar Mariam (Mariam’s Choice) – Directed by Mahmoud Yehia (Egypt).
• Mandoub Al-Layl (The Messenger of the Night) – Directed by Ali Al-Kalthami (Saudi Arabia).
• Inshallah Walad (If God Wills, a Child) – Directed by Amjad Al-Rasheed (Jordan).
• Rajulaan… Masir Wahid (Two Men… One Fate) – Directed by Mustafa Ozgon (Algeria).
• Messi Baghdad – Directed by Sahim Omar Khalifa (Iraq).
  Asfour Jannah (Bird of Paradise) – Directed by Mourad Ben Sheikh (Tunisia/Italy).
• Shay Aswad (Black Tea) – Directed by Abd Rahman Sissako (Mauritania).

Documentaries:

• Zeinat, Algeria and Happiness – Directed by Mohamed Latrash (Algeria/France).
• Rassif Beirut (Beirut Dock) – Directed by Farah Al-Hashem (Lebanon).
• Moutaradat Al-Daw Al-Mubhir (Chasing the Dazzling Light) – Directed by Yasser Qassab (Syria).
• Ikhtifa Saddam Hussein (The Disappearance of Saddam Hussein) – Directed by Mustafa Halkout (Norway/Iraq).
• Al-Kabitana – Directed by Hossam Senssa (Tunisia).
• Lydd – Directed by Rami Younis and Sarah Emma Friedland (Palestine/UK/USA).
• Moussa... Al-Maktabi Al-Akhir Fi Wahran (Moussa... The Last Librarian of Oran) – Directed by
• Abdel Rahman Mostafa and Haj Mohamed Faytas (Algeria).
• Tahat Sama Dimashq (Under the Sky of Damascus) – Directed by Hiba Khaled, Talal Derki, and Ali Wajih (Syria/USA/Denmark/Germany).
• Samar… Qabl Al-Soura Al-Nihaya (Samar… Before the Final Image) – Directed by Ayatollah Youssef (Egypt).
• Q – Directed by Jud Shehab (Lebanon/USA).

Short Films:

• Diyana Al-Maa (The Religion of Water) – Directed by Haitham Suleiman (Oman).
• 205 – Directed by Faraj Mayouf Ali Hamed (Libya).
• Wehda Afdal (A Better Unit) – Directed by Ricar Barzan (Iraq).
• Yawm (Day) – Directed by Ahmed Akbar (Bahrain).
• Qarar (Decision) – Directed by Abdallah Naimish (Algeria).
• Leni Africo – Directed by Marwan Labeeb (Tunisia).
• Mawsim (Season) – Directed by Hussein Ibrahim (Lebanon).
• Said – Directed by Rami Al-Zair (Saudi Arabia).
• Khurda (Debris) – Directed by Firas Mohamed (Syria).
• Al-Koura (The Ball) – Directed by Malek Saifi (Algeria).
• Walidak Ala Al-Arjah (Your Father Probably) – Directed by The Talba Brothers (Mauritania).
• Transit – Directed by Baqer Al-Rubaie (Iraq).
• Nahnu Fi Hajaa Ila Al-Mousaadat Al-Kawniya (We Need Cosmic Help) – Directed by Ahmed Imad (Egypt).
• Wainak Ant (Where Are You?) – Directed by Mohamed Kota (Jordan).

Short Documentaries:

• Al-Aziza – Directed by Bilal Ishaq Arbab (Sudan).
• Tayout 24 – Directed by Roaa Saleh (Tunisia).
• Boualam Samea Kolch – Directed by Aziz Boukeroni and Khaled Bounab (Algeria).
• Qoultalak – Directed by Malak Al-Sayyad (Egypt/USA).
• Huquq Ta’eh (Lost Rights) – Directed by Mohamed Masly (Libya).
• Ummuna Hawwa (Our Mother Eve) – Directed by Lama Jamjoum (Saudi Arabia).
• Satl (Bucket) – Directed by Adel Al-Himy (Yemen).
• Tahthouh – Directed by Mohamed Wali (Algeria/Qatar).

The Results:
During the closing ceremony of the Oran Arab Film Festival, the Saudi film Mandoob by Ali Khaltami won the top prize. The Silver and Bronze awards went respectively to Yemeni director Amr Gamal for The Burdened and Iraqi filmmaker Sahim Oran Khalifa for Baghdad Messi. In the acting categories, Mouna Hawa won Best Actress for Inshallah a Boy by Amjad Al-Rasheed, while Algerian actor Samir El Hakim won Best Actor for Land of Vengeance directed by Anis Djaad.

Aïcha, directed by Mehdi Barsaoui, won the Best Mediterranean Film Award at the 81st Venice Film Festival in 2024, in the Orizzonti section. The film tells the story of Aya, played by Fatma Sfar, a young woman working at a hotel in Tozeur, southern Tunisia.

Trapped in a restrictive environment and under family pressure to marry, her life changes after a bus accident in which she is the sole survivor. She decides to flee to Tunis, adopting a new identity under the name Amina. However, her new life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes a witness to police brutality, putting her safety and newfound freedom at risk.

Mehdi Barsaoui, already acclaimed for his 2019 film Un fils (A Son), continues to explore themes of social issues and individual emancipation in Tunisian society. The film will be presented during its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2024.

The 2024 Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF), held from October 6 to 12, highlights the richness of Arab cinema with a diverse program. Palestine is this year's guest of honor, offering audiences an immersion into Palestinian history and culture through several emblematic films. These works explore the evolution of Palestinian cinema and its significant contribution to Arab and international cinema.

Must-See Film Selection:

• "The Teacher" – Directed by Farah Nabulsi, this film addresses the educational and social challenges in Palestine through the story of a teacher fighting to maintain a functioning school system amidst conflict.
• "Amakor" – This Kuwaiti film by Ahmed Al-Khodary explores the themes of family and duty through the story of two brothers, played by Khaled Amin and Samah Hussein.
• "Tell Them What Happened" – A touching docu-fiction that follows the life of a child in Gaza, exploring themes of family and resilience in the face of trials. This film was screened during the festival’s opening ceremony.

The festival also features a film market, panel discussions, and over 17 educational workshops for youth, covering topics such as photography, animation, and filmmaking. Arab and international cinema experts, including Nayla Al Khaja and Hanna Atallah, lead these sessions to inspire and train the next generation of filmmakers.

Thank You for Banking with Us – Directed by Laila Abbas
A social drama that explores family dynamics and inheritance laws in a patriarchal Middle Eastern context. The film tells the story of Mariam and Noura, two sisters who face their father’s death. He leaves behind a large sum of money in a bank. According to the law, their brother is entitled to a double share of the inheritance because of his male status. The two sisters, who have strained relationships, decide to unite and try to recover the money before their brother finds out about their father's death. The film addresses themes such as the injustice of patriarchal laws and female solidarity, mixing dark humor and social critique. Shot in Palestine, it is an international co-production involving entities such as August Film and Chezville, with support from the Doha Film Institute and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC). It was developed and awarded in festivals like the El Gouna Film Festival, where it won awards for its promising screenplay, which recalls 'Inshallah a Boy' by Amjad Al-Rasheed.

To a Land Unknown – Directed by Mahdi Fleifel
A captivating drama that follows the story of two Palestinian cousins, Chatila and Reda, stuck in Athens after fleeing a camp in Lebanon. The film explores their struggle to survive on the margins of Greek society, desperately trying to reach Germany. Their goal is to raise enough money to buy fake passports, but the situation worsens when Reda loses their savings due to his drug addiction. Facing this loss, Chatila hatches a risky plan: they pretend to be smugglers and take hostages to try to escape their desperate environment. This film, influenced by New York cinema, particularly 'Midnight Cowboy', combines a thriller style with a realistic approach to the living conditions of migrants.

The cinematography by Thodoris Mihopoulos and the music by Nadah El Shazly contribute to the film's dark and urgent atmosphere. To a Land Unknown was presented at the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes 2024.

Who Do I Belong To – Directed by Meryam Joobeur
Aïcha and her husband, Brahim, have lived through years of uncertainty after their two eldest sons, Mehdi and Amine, left home to join an armed group in Syria. When Mehdi returns alone, he claims that his brother was killed, and the presence of Reem, his silent wife, fills the family with growing tension. As Aïcha tries to reintegrate her son and protect this mysterious new wife, unexplained disappearances of men from the village begin to stir unrest. Aïcha’s prophetic visions gradually reveal dark truths about Mehdi’s past and Reem’s identity.

This feature film, following her Oscar-nominated short 'Brotherhood', stands out for its blend of social realism and poetic symbolism. Joobeur uses dreamlike images and immersive photography to explore family fractures caused by radicalism while emphasizing the feminine perspective. The film was presented in competition at the Berlinale 2024 and won several awards, including Best Director at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

'Who Do I Belong To' is an international co-production involving companies from France, Canada, and Tunisia, with support from funds in various countries, including Norway and Qatar. The film explores universal themes of belonging, loyalty, and identity quest in a Tunisian context anchored in contemporary realities.

Ghost Trail – Directed by Jonathan Millet
The film is a dramatic thriller that follows Hamid, a former literature professor from Aleppo. Exiled in Europe after fleeing the Syrian war, Hamid joins an underground group that hunts down former officials of the Syrian regime. Played by Adam Bessa, Hamid is haunted by his past, particularly by a torturer he decides to pursue to France, hoping to confront him. The film is inspired by real events, offering an intense immersion into the journey of Syrian refugees seeking justice and truth. Ghost Trail premiered at the Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, where it was praised for combining the codes of espionage films with a psychological confrontation. Critics particularly appreciated Adam Bessa's performance, who portrays a man determined to face his past while exploring the complexities of revenge and trauma. The actor notably won the Best Performance award at the Cannes Film Festival 2022 in the Un Certain Regard section for his role in Harka by Lotfy Nathan.

In October, Baltyuor will open what it presents as the first art-house cinema in Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Al-Muheisen's 1975 documentary Development of Riyadh City will be the first film to be screened at the new cinema in the Saudi capital.

Baltyuor has a trusted team of five people who will select the films to be screened each month. Cinehouse will always include a local Saudi and Middle Eastern film, as well as leading films from around the world. The October film lineup includes Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest, Ryoo Seung-wan's The Executioner, Aki Karuismaki's Fallen Leaves, and The Burdened by Yemeni filmmaker Amr Gamal.

The 4th edition of the Lebanese Film Festival in France (FFLF) takes place from October 13 to 20, 2024, at the cinema Le Lincoln in Paris. The FFLF offers an ambitious program featuring 40 screenings and several cultural partnerships to enhance the audience's experience.

The festival will participate in several autumn events, including the Franco-Arab Film Festival in Noisy-le-Sec (November 15 to 30, 2024), focusing on Gaza, and the French release of Cyril Aris’ documentary Dancing on a Volcano, which has been screened in various Parisian theaters since September 25. The festival also partners with the play Parlons, il est temps, supported by the festival's first patron, Philippe Aractingi, staged at the Essaïon Theatre until October 29, 2024.

Alongside the screenings, the festival will host a kinetic photography exhibition entitled Au Fil du Temps under the curatorship of Elfan, a partner of the festival and a company that promotes cultural events for Lebanese communities in France, Belgium, and Lebanon. This exhibition, accessible throughout the festival at Le Lincoln cinema, questions the boundary between still and moving images and offers a poetic reflection on temporality.

Program here.

Loft Art Gallery, based in Casablanca, made history by becoming the first Moroccan gallery to participate in Art Basel Paris from October 18 to 20, 2024. Founded in 2009 by Myriem and Yasmine Berrada Sounni, the gallery is renowned for its commitment to promoting modern and contemporary African and Moroccan art. Participation in one of the world’s most prestigious art fairs is a major achievement for both the gallery and the Moroccan art scene. Yasmine Berrada expressed her pride in gaining access to such an international platform, highlighting the opportunity to reach new collectors and broaden recognition for Moroccan artists worldwide.

For this event, Loft Art Gallery chose to honor Mohamed Melehi, an iconic figure of the Casablanca School and a pioneer of Moroccan modern art. Seven of his works, including three never-before-seen pieces, are on display, offering visitors a rare opportunity to explore his contributions to post-independence Moroccan aesthetics. Melehi, famous for his bold geometric patterns, especially his iconic wave motif, played a crucial role in shaping Moroccan modernism. This exhibition comes at a time of growing international fascination with Moroccan art, illustrated by the global recognition of artists like Hassan Hajjaj.

Beyond its role as a platform for Moroccan artists, Loft Art Gallery aims to build bridges between Morocco and the world through art. By participating in fairs on multiple continents and collaborating with international museums, it is establishing itself as a key player in the contemporary art scene. The presentation of Melehi’s works at Art Basel Paris is a testament to the rise and influence of Moroccan art, which continues to capture the attention of collectors and art lovers worldwide.

Carole Moawad is a Lebanese entrepreneur based in the United Arab Emirates, known for founding M’OISHÎ, a dessert brand specializing in Japanese mochi. She began her career in healthcare management before venturing into entrepreneurship. Inspired by a trip to Beirut where she discovered mochi, she opened her first M’OISHÎ shop at City Walk, Dubai, in 2017 while continuing to work in the corporate sector.

Since then, M’OISHÎ has expanded rapidly with several cafés across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and franchises in Kuwait and Egypt. Moawad uses premium ingredients imported from Japan to ensure the authenticity of her products, while adapting them to local tastes. Her development strategy also targets Europe, North Africa, and the United States.

Her project in Saudi Arabia, M’OISHÎ, has been enthusiastically received: “We opened three M’OISHÎ stores in Riyadh, and the mango and coconut ice creams have become our best-sellers” (Arab News).

In addition to her work with M’OISHÎ, Moawad actively promotes female entrepreneurship in the Middle East, encouraging women to pursue their ambitions without being hindered by obstacles or traditional perceptions. Her journey demonstrates the importance of passion and perseverance in entrepreneurial success.

Tunisian novelist Azza Filali has been awarded the prestigious Prix Ivoire for African Literature in its 16th edition in 2024 for her novel Misunderstandings, published in 2023 by Alizade Editions. This marks the first time Tunisia has won this prize since its inception in 2008. The novel had already won the Comar d’Or Prize in May for the best French-language work.

Among 76 works from 16 countries, Filali’s book stood out for its exploration of human misunderstandings and internal conflicts. The award ceremony will take place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on November 23.

Created in 2008 by the Ivorian association Akwaba Culture, the Prix Ivoire annually honors an African author for their literary contribution.

Publishers from Palestine, Lebanon, and Sudan will be exempt from registration fees at the upcoming Sharjah International Book Fair, to be held next month.

The organizers also announced that publishers from these three countries will receive industry support at the event, which will take place at the Expo Centre Sharjah from November 6 to 17.

This decision follows a directive issued by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Book Authority.

Explaining the decision, Sheikha Bodour highlighted the challenges facing regional publishers due to the war between Israel and Gaza and the conflict in Sudan. She emphasized that supporting the publishing sector in these affected countries is essential to preserving their cultural heritage.

The 9th edition of the iRead competition, organized by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran, will take place on October 11 and 12, 2024. This event aims to promote reading and literary culture across the Arab world. This year’s theme, “Reading Bridges Worlds,” highlights the importance of reading as a tool for cultural connection and personal enrichment.

The competition includes two main categories: the essay track, with ten finalists from seven Arab countries (including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, and Syria), and the debate track, where eight other participants will compete on literary topics. These finalists were selected from over 106,000 submissions. During the final, the public will have the opportunity to vote for the Public Favorite, adding an interactive dimension to the event.

The cultural program accompanying the competition includes speeches by renowned authors and intellectuals, such as Saudi critic Abdullah Al-Ghathami and Algerian writer Ahlam Mosteghanemi. Additionally, poetry recitals, book signings, and exhibitions, such as the book exchange event Kutubiya, will enrich the event days. Nobel Prize winners in literature, such as Olga Tokarczuk (2018) and Abdulrazak Gurnah (2021), will also be present, highlighting the international

The 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will take place from November 6 to 17, 2024, at the Expo Centre Sharjah, under the theme of literary and cultural diversity. This event, one of the largest book fairs in the Arab world, will host international writers, celebrities, and intellectuals. Among the notable guests are Georgi Gospodinov, Booker Prize winner, and Indian actress Huma Qureshi, who will bring diverse literary perspectives.

The fair will include a rich program of conferences, creative workshops, and roundtables, addressing topics ranging from contemporary writing to the literary history of the Middle East. The event also highlights renowned Arab and international authors, fostering intercultural exchange around literature. Book signing sessions and meetings with writers will offer the public a direct dialogue with authors, providing an immersive experience.

In parallel, SIBF 2024 will offer educational and entertaining activities for families, including children’s workshops and public readings. The fair aims to promote reading as a cultural pillar in the region and beyond. This initiative reflects Sharjah’s commitment to positioning itself as a global cultural capital, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Among the authors from the region not to be missed are the Egyptian writer Ahmed Mourad, known for his thrillers such as Vertigo, and Hisham El Gakh, a famous poet for his works written in Egyptian dialect.

On the Lebanese side, Chawki Bazih, poet laureate of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Prize, will be present. Morocco will also be represented with authors such as Youssef Fadel, winner of the Grand Atlas Award, and Rachid Idrissi, known for his contributions to the critique of Arabic poetry.

Finally, Syrian writers such as Khaled Khalifa, the award-winning author of the novel No Knives in the Kitchens of This City, and Iraqi figures like Inaam Kachachi and Shahad Al Rawi will be present.

Comment ne pas citer « Houri » de Kamel Daoud ou « Kiff Kiff Hier » de Faïza Guène ? Impossible. Mais il existe assez d’articles et d’interviews sur ces ouvrages pour vous donner envie de les lire. Concentrons nous sur d’autres auteurs, qui méritent tout autant votre attention :

« Tout le bruit de Guéliz » de Ruben Barrouk. Il s’agit du premier ouvrage de l’auteur, inspiré par ses racines familiales séfarades à Marrakech, et met en scène une vieille dame tourmentée par un bruit mystérieux dans le quartier du Guéliz. Inquiets, sa fille et son petit-fils quittent Paris pour mener une enquête, mais leur exploration ne fait que révéler des histoires plus profondes sur l’exil, les traditions et la quête d’identité. L’œuvre, écrite comme un conte moderne, juxtapose le vacarme de notre époque avec un bruit symbolique qui renvoie à un temps où les communautés vivaient en harmonie. La précision de la plume de Ruben Barrouk sublime la ville ocre et le quartier emblématique du Mellah, revisitant l’histoire de la communauté juive marocaine.

« 30 secondes à Gaza » de Mohammad Sabaaneh. La BD racinte, en noir et blanc, la réalité tragique et quotidienne de la bande de Gaza. Sabaaneh, caricaturiste palestinien, utilise un style graphique poignant pour illustrer les impacts de l’occupation israélienne. Son œuvre se compose de scènes de 30 secondes, inspirées des vidéos diffusées sur les réseaux sociaux, et vise à sensibiliser le public international à la situation en Palestine. L’auteur est actuellement en tournée en France pour présenter sa BD, faisant étape dans des villes comme Paris, Albertville, Forcalquier, et Marseille. Son travail, édité par Alifbata, s’inscrit dans une démarche militante, et les profits des ventes seront reversés à des associations palestiniennes soutenant les victimes de Gaza.

« Barbès Blues » d’Hajer Ben Boubaker nous sort des clichés associés à la Goutte d’Or parisienne. À travers un mélange de récits de vie, de témoignages et d’archives, l’auteure explore l’histoire complexe d’un quartier parisien qui a connu les luttes sociales et culturelles menées par les communautés nord-africaines, particulièrement durant les décennies marquées par l’arrivée massive de travailleurs immigrés.Ben Boubaker, documentariste et créatrice du podcast Vintage Arab, utilise son expertise pour brosser un portrait intime et nuancé de Barbès. Elle s’appuie sur des documents inédits et des entretiens avec des figures du quartier, recréant ainsi une mosaïque de voix qui témoigne de la diversité et de la richesse culturelle de cette diaspora. L’ouvrage met en lumière l’importance de ce lieu comme espace de lutte, de rencontre, mais aussi de résistance face aux défis de l’intégration et du racisme. Ce travail s’inscrit dans une volonté de rendre hommage à une communauté souvent marginalisée et de révéler les dynamiques historiques qui ont façonné ce quartier. Barbès Blues cherche à reconnecter le passé et le présent de ces habitants, tout en montrant comment ce territoire reste un espace de mémoire collective et de réinvention culturelle. L’auteure propose ainsi une réflexion sur l’identité maghrébine en France, tout en dénonçant les injustices et en appelant à un renouveau de la solidarité.

« Un soir d’Alexandrie », le dernier roman d’Alaa El Aswany. L’intrigue se déroule à la fin des années 1950 dans la ville d’Alexandrie, alors symbole de cosmopolitisme et de diversité culturelle. Le récit suit une bande d’amis qui se retrouvent régulièrement au bar du restaurant Artinos, sur la corniche, pour discuter et refaire le monde. Ces personnages, unis par leur amour de la ville, se retrouvent divisés face aux bouleversements politiques engendrés par la dictature de Gamal Abdel Nasser, qui transforme progressivement le paysage social et économique de l’Égypte. El Aswany met en lumière la fin d’une époque à travers une fresque humaine riche en émotions. Le roman explore le choc entre les idéaux cosmopolites d’Alexandrie et la réalité d’un pays en pleine mutation, capturant la nostalgie d’une ville qui perd peu à peu son identité multiculturelle. L’auteur utilise son style caractéristique pour créer un portrait à la fois intime et historique, naviguant entre espoirs, désillusions, et tensions politiques notamment autour de la figure de Nasser. Fidèle à sa méthode, El Aswany nous propose une critique sociale subtile et une réflexion sur l’identité égyptienne. En mettant en scène des personnages pris dans des tourments qui les dépassent, il parvient à illustrer les dilemmes et les rêves d’une génération confrontée à la transition d’Alexandrie, autrefois bastion de tolérance, vers une ville dominée par les enjeux nationaux.

« Du pain sur la table de l’oncle Milad » est le premier roman de l’écrivain libyen Mohammed Alnaas. Il se déroule dans un cadre intime, celui de la boulangerie de Milad, qui devient un espace de rencontre et de confession. Les échanges avec divers personnages, en particulier avec une cliente mystérieuse et cosmopolite, révèlent peu à peu les contradictions intérieures de Milad. Ce dernier se retrouve pris entre la modernité symbolisée par cette femme, et les normes patriarcales de sa société qui dictent la manière dont un homme doit se comporter. Mohammed Alnaas construit ainsi un univers où les tensions entre attentes sociétales et aspirations personnelles sont subtilement décrites par la métaphore filée du pain libyen, qui se poursuit tout au long du roman.

L’ouvrage, qui a déjà remporté le Prix international de la fiction arabe, met en lumière la complexité des relations humaines et offre un regard sur nos sociétés patriarcales, sujet qui résonne aujourd’hui en Orient comme en Occident.

One of this October’s highlights from Koukou Editions is the book by Farida Aït Ferroukh, which explores the roots of Kabyle song, emphasizing its link to spirituality and its evolution toward international stages like the Olympia.

Farida Aït Ferroukh explains that her work is based on an anthropological study of the evolution of Kabyle music, integrating unpublished testimonies from iconic figures like Slimane Azem and Chérif Kheddam. She emphasizes the importance of this music in the cultural and identity-related claims of the Berber people, especially since the events of the Berber Spring in the 1980s, which marked a turning point in the recognition of cultural rights in Algeria.

The book provides an in-depth analysis of Kabyle music, tracing its evolution. It highlights the contributions of major figures such as Slimane Azem and Chérif Kheddam and underscores the impact of this music in the Berber identity struggle.

The special edition of Al-Thaqafa Al-Jadida magazine features contributions from 13 Palestinian writers, who delve into the cultural and social impacts of the Gaza offensive. Among them are prominent names like Mahmoud Jaber, who addresses the topic of collective memory through poetry, and Rasha Salameh, who uses prose to highlight the daily resilience of Gaza’s inhabitants.

The authors focus on various themes, including the preservation of Palestinian cultural identity in the face of destruction, the role of art as a form of resistance, and the transmission of intangible heritage despite the challenges posed by blockades and attacks. They also explore how traditional narratives are evolving to reflect the new realities experienced by the population.

The edition aims to demonstrate how culture serves not only as a refuge but also as a unifying force and tool of resilience in a context of ongoing conflict. It gives voice to writers who, through their unique styles and approaches, contribute to safeguarding Palestinian heritage and expressing the modern Palestinian experience.

A quick biography of the authors:

• Akram Al-Sourani – On the Road from Deir Al-Balah to Khan Younis
• Aya Shuhut – In the Arms of the Tent
• Basmat Al-Hour – No Sea for Me!
• Mahmoud Jaber – Poems on Collective Memory
• Rasha Salameh – Prose on Resilience in Gaza
• Ihab Al-Hadhari – The Civilizational Massacres: The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine’s Archaeological Sites
• Atif Abu Hamada – Bombardment, Cold, and Slow Death
• Hanan Al-Rimawi – Text on the Social and Cultural Impact of the Blockade
• Nasser Al-Qudwa – Poems on Palestinian Identity and Resistance
• Samira Agha – Narrative on the Impact of the Conflict on Families
• Youssef Hamdoun – Literary Essay on the Psychological Effects of Conflict
• Salma Al-Majdalawi – Text on the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Gaza
• Abdullah Tayeh – Letter from War to Ghareeb Asqallani

The official website for Al-Thaqafa Al-Jadida magazine is hosted by the Egyptian General Authority for Cultural Palaces. You can access issues and information on the magazine via the following link: www.gocp.gov.eg.

The ninth edition of the Mohamed Dib Literary Prize in Algeria announced its shortlist, featuring nine literary works in three categories: Arabic, Amazigh, and French. Organized by the cultural association La Grande Maison in Tlemcen, the prize celebrates the literary legacy of Mohamed Dib (1920-2003), one of Algeria’s most influential writers. The objective is to promote and encourage literary creation among young authors in the three national languages.

Selected Works:

In Arabic:

• Al-Yaraabi’ As-Soud by Djilali Amrani
• As-Sira Ath-Thania Li Iblis by Ali Baki
• Sira Mawtaa Lam Yabkihim Ahad by Abdelkader Berghout

In Amazigh:

• Mourdis by Ould Amar Tahar
• Thasfivet Tasfasi Thousaft by Srik Lisa

In French:

• Les vies (multiples) d’Adam by Ben Allou Lamine
• De glace et de feu by Suzanne Elkens
• Taxis by Ayham Ayman
• Les gens du peuplier by Arzaki Metref

In the eighth edition, the winners included Amal Bouchareb for the best Arabic novel with Fi al-Bida’ Kanat al-Kalima, Walid Sahli for Targaqat in Amazigh, and Kalthoum Stali for La ville aux yeux d’or in French.

Sylwia Nazzal, a 23-year-old Palestinian-Jordanian designer and Parsons Paris graduate, is a finalist for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award at the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards, which will be held in Marrakech in October. Her collection, titled What Should Have Been Home, explores Palestinian resilience through textiles and shapes inspired by Islamic history and traditions. Primarily using nylon and silhouettes reminiscent of the khimar, she aims to symbolize the endurance of Palestinian culture, a mix of spiritual and physical elements.

Nazzal’s collection, which draws from archives depicting the harsh realities faced by Palestinians under Israeli colonization, faced resistance in Europe due to its politically charged nature. However, she found an opportunity with Fashion Trust Arabia, which offers a platform for young talents from the Middle East and North Africa. The award includes a $50,000 grant, mentorship, and retail opportunities to help emerging designers grow.

A key piece of her collection is a dress made from 10,000 Palestinian pieces, hand-sewn by refugees in Jordan. According to Nazzal, this piece embodies the essence of her work, representing a "spiritual armor" that protects and honors Palestinian identity. She seeks to remind the world that while Palestine is contested physically, it continues to exist spiritually and culturally for those who claim its heritage.

"I worked with Palestinian refugee women here in Jordan to hand-sew it, and it took a lot of effort. It’s what embodies the collection because there is this weight, this reflection, this feeling of armor, like spiritual armor, protecting the entity of Palestine."

The event will be held at Espace Magh in Brussels on November 15, 2024, starting at 9 p.m. This musical evening explores Mediterranean sounds and a fusion of styles, marking a unique cultural encounter.

The group Turkish Kebap is at the center of this evening. Comprised of five musicians from Brussels, the group draws inspiration from the psychedelic folk music of Turkey from the 1970s while integrating contemporary elements. Their music blends traditional rhythms with modern melodies, offering an immersive musical experience that blurs boundaries and transcends time.

In parallel, the duo Nashwa, formed by Alix Pilot (percussionist and producer) and Ghizlane Melih (Moroccan singer), offers organic bass music that combines modernity and traditional influences. The name “Nashwa,” meaning “euphoria” in Arabic, describes their musical approach aimed at generating a collective trance. The evening will conclude with La Dame, a renowned DJ and producer known for her ability to mix different genres, from avant-garde electronic music to world music, creating unique and unclassifiable sets.

Finally, La Dame, a Franco-Spanish DJ and producer based in Belgium, will offer avant-garde electronic music influenced by global rhythms, ranging from Afro beats to Latin percussion. Her eclectic and experimental approach sets her apart on the international music scene.

Launched in 2020 by two musicians and producers – Yamed Mekdad and Mark Gergis – with the goal of preserving, documenting, and promoting Syrian musical heritage, the Syrian Cassette Archives project is now focused on the zajal genre.

A traditional musical form from the southern mountains of Syria, zajal is often performed at weddings and features a dialogue between two lovers. This musical tradition is currently at risk of disappearing due to lack of practice and archives. In recent months, Syrian Cassette Archives has uncovered exclusive audio recordings of zajal from the 1970s to 2000s.

Gergis recounts how he scoured markets, music shops, and souks in Syria. In 2020, Gergis and Mekdad had only 600 zajal cassettes. They now own nearly 2,000, allowing them to truly understand and analyze the evolution of zajal in Syria.

Grants from institutions like the British Council have helped the project take on a more permanent role. Mekdad and Gergis work with researchers to locate and interview musicians who were recorded and have organized technical workshops in Amman. They’ve also established digitization centers in Aleppo and Damascus to preserve and share this restored musical heritage more easily.

The Arab Grammy Awards, to be held for the first time in December 2024 in Dubai, represent a major milestone in the recognition of Arab music on the international stage. Launched as part of the MENA Recording Academy’s efforts to diversify and expand its reach, these awards aim to honor artists and music creators from the Arab world and Turkey, covering a variety of genres from classical Arab music to contemporary hip-hop, reflecting the richness and diversity of musical cultures in the region.

The initiative also seeks to promote these artists on global stages and provide a platform for them to share their unique stories and cultural influences. The event will include categories such as Best Arab Album and Best Arab Vocal Performance, in addition to the global Grammy awards, showing increased support for talent from the Arab world.

Although the selected artists have not yet been announced, it seems likely that the Egyptian rapper Felukha—whose real name is Sara El Messiry—will be among them. On October 21, she will embark on her first solo international tour, stopping in European cities like Berlin, Paris, and Amsterdam before heading to Dubai for a concert on November 15 at Monkey Bar. After her new single Honey Suckle, she is already working on her fourth album. She describes it as a return to her hip-hop roots. "You heard it here first: it will be released next year and will be called Hibiscus."

At the Festival d'Automne in Paris, Lina Majdalanie and Rabih Mroué present their play "Biokhraphia," an introspective and committed work that revisits thirty years of theatrical creation. This piece is based on an autobiographical and documentary approach, mixing fiction and reality to explore the impact of conflicts in Lebanon on bodies and minds. Using personal archives, videos, and live performances, the play questions the power of images and the media narratives that shape our perception of war.

The synopsis of Biokhraphia revolves around the representation of violence and how it infiltrates daily life. The minimalist staging, accompanied by multimedia elements, highlights the relationship between the actor's body and historical events, thus questioning both collective and individual memory in Lebanon. Majdalanie and Mroué aim to deconstruct dominant discourses and reinvent alternative narratives about past and present conflicts.

Critics have praised the boldness and originality of the play, commending the artists' critical approach to the tragic events in their country. The Parisian audience, accustomed to their hybrid aesthetic, particularly appreciated the depth and reflection offered by this performance, which intelligently blends documentary and fiction. Majdalanie and Mroué thus confirm their essential place in contemporary theater as figures of artistic resistance and scenic innovation.

The exhibition "The Land and I" by Nabil Anani takes place at Zawyeh Gallery in Dubai from September 29, 2024, to January 12, 2025. This exhibition showcases Anani’s colorful and textured landscapes, celebrating Palestine in an idealized form, free from occupation, without barriers or checkpoints. Anani uses natural materials such as wood, straw, dried herbs, and spices to physically anchor his works in the land he represents, making the land a central and living element of his paintings.

The exhibition offers a meditation on the spiritual and physical relationship between Palestinians and their environment. For Anani, the Palestinian land is not just a backdrop but an active participant in the struggle for freedom. His works erase the boundary between people and the land, merging the two into a unique entity with a shared history, present, and future.

Some key works to discover:

« The Herd » : This painting illustrates Nabil Anani’s attachment to the Palestinian land. Unlike realistic landscapes of Ramallah, his paintings are colorful and idealized visions of a harmonious Palestine, free from the barriers and checkpoints imposed by the occupation. This dreamlike approach allows Anani to imagine the Palestinian land as he dreams it, at peace with nature.

Kafr Qaddum: Anani shows that the Palestinian land is not just a simple backdrop but a narrative element of Palestine’s history, marked by the quest for freedom. He highlights the organic relationship between Palestinians and their natural environment, a relationship disrupted by the occupation. The painting serves as a visual testimony to this interrupted connection, while aspiring to a future of liberation.

« Zayta » : This work presents an idyllic pastoral scene that reimagines Palestine as a living being. Anani erases the boundaries between people and the land, uniting them into a single entity with a shared history, present, and future. For him, the land is not only a silent witness but an active agent in the Palestinian struggle, reminding us that heritage and memory are rooted in the landscape itself.

Nabil Anani, born in 1943, is a renowned Palestinian artist and one of the pioneers of modern art in Palestine. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Alexandria and has dedicated his career to representing Palestinian identity and culture through various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installations. Since the First Intifada, he has used local materials to create works that intimately connect Palestinians to their land while symbolically opposing cultural erasure attempts.

"My art is not something the viewer needs to 'grasp.' The role of the artwork is to 'grasp' the viewer. When we look at art, we agree to open our minds to receive it. Art makes us more sensitive. When an artist creates small details that draw us in, it’s because we’ve become a little more sensitive. Art, in its purest form, is an expression of the soul."

These are the words of Bahraini painter Salman Alnajem. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, he uses heavy industrial materials, such as steel, as a canvas to explore themes related to ancient civilizations, technology, religion, and mythology. Having exhibited his works in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, as well as the UK, France, and Italy, Alnajem draws inspiration from religious and symbolic references to create compositions that attempt to understand the wisdom of past civilizations to influence the present and future.

In his latest project, titled Cosmic Perspectives, Alnajem has produced a series of small and medium-sized paintings, vibrant with color and inspired by ancient sites such as the Pyramids or Stonehenge. He explores ancient symbols and the sophisticated knowledge of past civilizations in architecture, astronomy, and astrology, revealing intriguing links between cultures far apart in time and space. For him, these sites and symbols seem to share a universal language across ages. Alnajem describes his art as "abstract symbolism," combining elements of contemporary pop culture and antiquity to create simple yet harmonious compositions.

The Moroccan artist is transitioning to oil painting, moving away from her usual acrylics but retaining her characteristic geometric shapes. She is showcasing this in her exhibition Interlude, which will be held at Casablanca’s 38 Gallery from October 17 to November 16.

The exhibition introduces a new concept to Meriam Benkirane’s work: virtual realism. Through this approach, the artist reorganizes elements from the digital world while using classical techniques such as sfumato, employed to create subtle contrasts between shadow and light.

Benkirane draws inspiration from Cubism and Modernism, artistic movements that influence her approach to shapes and volumes. Her work also reflects the grandeur of megacities, those sprawling metropolises where excess and complexity both fascinate and provoke thought.

Moroccan artist Lalla Essaydi presents her exhibition "The Visible Unveiled" at the Musée des Confluences in Marrakech. This exhibition highlights her series Harem, in which Essaydi questions cultural representations of the female body in the Arab world through captivating photographs. Using henna and Arabic calligraphy, she creates works where women are not passive subjects but active agents.

The geometric patterns and architectural decorations of Islamic culture play an essential role in her compositions, where women dressed in elaborate caftans blend into the majestic decor of historical palaces. The exhibition is organized in collaboration with the National Museums Foundation, inviting reflection on themes of gender, identity, and cultural history in the Arab world.

“What is divine chaos? It is the disordered state of matter.”
Until November 2, the New York gallery Aicon Contemporary is hosting Emirati artist Noor Al Suwaidi’s latest exhibition, Divine Chaos. Her most recent works delve into the concept of divine chaos, the idea that amidst the unknown lies harmony. Noor Al Suwaidi presents abstract, colorful forms that seem to escape the terrestrial world for another, more aerial one. The artist focuses on the concepts of energy, sixth sense, and the capacity of emotions to guide us. Divine Chaos thus encourages a sense of letting go.

The aka TAWLA collective, founded by Abdo Shanan and Rehab Eldalil, is dedicated to creating photobooks and promoting photographic works from the SWANA region (Southwest Asia and North Africa). In November 2023, they launched Tarweedeh, a fanzine inspired by traditional Palestinian songs, at the Polycopies fair in Paris. This project, supported by the Magnum Foundation and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, includes works by photographers such as Randa Shaath and Tanya Habjouqa, exploring themes of collective memory and identity narratives.

Tarweedeh features works by:

Maen Hammad : A Palestinian documentary photographer based between Ramallah and Washington, D.C. He focuses on the skateboarding scene in the West Bank, which he has been documenting since 2014. His project Landing explores skateboarding as a form of resistance and escape for Palestinian youth in the face of the tensions caused by the Israeli occupation. Hammad closely collaborates with SkatePal, an organization supporting skateboarding in Palestine by building skateparks and providing equipment. Through this initiative, Hammad captures the vitality of Palestinian youth and the use of skateboarding as a form of creative resistance.

Randa Shaath : A Cairo-based photographer of Palestinian and Egyptian origin. She explores the urban transformations of the city and the daily life of Cairenes, often through a black-and-white approach. Her series Under the Same Sky focuses on life on Cairo's rooftops, capturing intimate moments in often overlooked urban spaces. She has exhibited in venues such as the Tapies Foundation in Spain and the Witte de With in the Netherlands, and she represented Egypt at the São Paulo Biennale in 2006. In parallel, she teaches photography at the American University in Cairo.

Samar abu Elouf : An award-winning Palestinian photojournalist based in the Gaza Strip. Since 2010, she has been covering the conflicts and harsh living conditions of Gaza’s residents for publications like The New York Times and Reuters. She focuses on issues related to women, children, and the aftermath of recurring wars, such as the Great March of Return protests in 2018-2019. Her commitment to documenting local realities has led her to work without protective gear, sometimes fashioning a makeshift helmet from pots and pans. In 2021, she covered the May clashes between Israel and Hamas, documenting the massive destruction and human losses, including those of her own family members.

Nidal Rohmi: A Palestinian documentary photographer based in Gaza, whose work focuses on the impacts of conflicts and the marginalization of Gaza's inhabitants. Since 2016, he has left his engineering career to devote himself to photography, exploring themes such as limb amputations resulting from successive wars. His project Gaza the City of Amputees, supported by the Arab Documentary Photography Program (ADPP), sheds light on the daily challenges and ambitions of conflict victims.

Tanya Habjouqa: A Jordanian-Palestinian photographer known for her series that explore the political and social tensions in the Middle East with a nuanced visual and narrative approach. Her award-winning work blends documentary and conceptual art to capture life scenes in the Palestinian territories, focusing on humor and resilience. Habjouqa is part of the NOOR Images collective and has exhibited in institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Samar Hazboun: A native of Bethlehem, she uses photography to address issues of gender and violence in Palestinian society. She has worked on series such as Beyond Checkpoints, exploring the impacts of military checkpoints on pregnant women in the West Bank. Her works, supported by the Magnum Foundation and other institutions, aim to give a voice to marginalized women while raising awareness of their daily realities.

Ameen Abo Kaseem: A Palestinian-Syrian visual artist and documentary photographer based in Damascus. A graduate of the Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2023, he has been using photography since 2016 to document the effects of conflicts on his environment and to express personal experiences related to his life in the Yarmouk refugee camp. His project How Was Everything, Before All This Ruin?, supported by the Magnum Foundation and the Prince Claus Fund, explores memory and the remnants of a lost past through intimate and poetic narratives.

Lina Khalid: An emerging Palestinian photographer whose work explores womanhood and intergenerational stories within Palestinian communities. Her visual approach focuses on the collective experience and intimate storytelling of women in Palestine, seeking to give visibility to stories often marginalized in dominant narratives.

Nadia Bseiso: A Jordanian photographer of Palestinian origin, specializing in visual documentaries related to environmental and social issues. Her project Infertile Crescent, supported by the Arab Documentary Photography Program, studies ecological transformations and water access conflicts in the Fertile Crescent region. Bseiso, who has exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Istanbul Biennale, uses photography as a means of raising awareness and advocacy on environmental issues in the Middle East.

Omani artist Mujahid Jamal launched the artistic platform Sard Visuals in 2023, with the idea of harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to advance the Arab artistic journey. Far from rejecting new technologies, he taps into AI’s potential to reshape the photographic landscape, establishing a collaboration between human creativity and machine intelligence.

What does this mean in practice?

While Jamal continues to capture snapshots and key moments of contemporary Arab life with his camera, he incorporates AI into the creative process by injecting cultural symbols, unusual associations, and surprising alliances into his photographs. This awakens the curiosity and reflection of the audience, tackling stereotypes people may hold about the East.

Zineb Sedira showcases her pioneering cinematic practice spanning two decades, exploring themes of identity, memory, culture, and resistance. The Franco-Algerian photographer and videographer presents some of her most important works, including the acclaimed video installation Mother Tongue. The triple-screen video artwork depicts conversations between three generations of women: Sedira, her mother, and her daughter. The piece explores how memory evolves with changes in language across generations.

The fourth season of the podcast Machi Rojola, created by Soufiane Hennani and launched on September 5, 2024, focuses on feminism and positive masculinities. This season highlights female voices like Latifa El Bouhsini, a historian of feminist movements in Morocco. The episodes cover various topics, including cyber harassment, with activists such as Bouchra Abdou.

Produced in Darija, the podcast also reaches the diaspora in Tunisia, France, and Belgium, with episodes in French. Soufiane, currently in Canada, uses virtual technologies for recording, illustrating his global commitment despite the distance.

Link: here.

I’m Not Racist But... by Donia Ismaïl. Journalist and founder of the Arabengers project, Donia launches a podcast in French on Slate, analyzing everyday racism. Listeners can attend live recordings, where various cultural personalities engage in discussions about the normalization of racism (with guests like Nadège Beausson-Diagne, Anas Daif, etc.). The podcast is available on all platforms and can be found here. Il est possible d’assister aux enregistrements qui invite différentes personnalités culturelles à dialoguer autour de la banalisation de ce fait sociétal (Nadège Beausson-Diagne, Anas Daif, …); The podcast is available on all platforms and can be found here.

I Speak to You from Beirut by L’Orient-Le Jour. Broadcasting live from the ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon, this podcast gives a voice to the victims of the new massacre unfolding before the world’s eyes. In a bid to humanize the victims, the podcast challenges the Western narrative of “war” causing “collateral damage” in Lebanon by giving the Lebanese a voice, presence, and humanity. Each three-minute episode, available on YouTube or all platforms, recounts the daily lives of Beirutis under bombardment. The first episode can be found here, titled “Nasrallah and Skateboarding,”

Blank Maps, produced by Sowt. This podcast explores identity issues in the Arab world and presents itself with a simple tagline that we will keep in English: “On home and belonging, and everything in between.” Each episode in the four-season series lasts about fifteen minutes, focusing on a specific story. Our favorite episode features Mustafa, a Palestinian Druze, born with Israeli citizenship. When he faces mandatory military service in the Israeli army, he finds himself at the crossroads of his different identities, affiliations, and beliefs. Available only in Arabic, here.

Lebanese artist and designer Najla el-Zein, winner of the 2024 Dia al-Azzawi Prize, made a significant impact on the art scene with her installation We, Lion, Him in Doha. Composed of sculpted limestone benches, this 313-meter-long work embodies human connections through sinuous, intertwined forms. Symbolizing resilience and unity, it was created in Lebanon despite the financial crisis, pandemic, and Beirut port explosion. El-Zein and her team worked with determination, paying tribute to Lebanese craftsmanship and collective strength.

Commissioned by Qatar for the "Flag Plaza," the work reflects el-Zein’s commitment to functional art, merging aesthetics with utility in public spaces. The artist, who first gained recognition with her installation at the Victoria & Albert Museum, explores in this project the communication between individuals through welcoming or introverted forms, symbolizing different social interactions.

Created in collaboration with Lebanese sculptors, this piece is also a symbol of hope amidst adversity, demonstrating local expertise despite significant logistical challenges. For el-Zein, this tribute to human diversity is a continuation of her work, where the relationship between object and space remains central. She views this project not only as artistic but also as a demonstration of collective resilience, strength, and perseverance in a context of great instability.

The first edition of the Dhofar International Theatre Festival is being held from October 2 to 9, 2024, in the Sultanate of Oman. It brings together 35 theater troupes representing 50 countries. The event offers a variety of performances divided into several categories: grand theater, children's theater, monodrama, community theater, and outdoor shows. Among the plays selected for the main competition is "The Desert Shepherd" from Tunisia, in the children's theater category, and "Phrymology" from Jordan, in the theatrical duo competition.

The Egyptian play "Where No One Sees Me" presents an outdoor performance, highlighting the importance of theatrical expression in public spaces. Additionally, "Attic" from Syria is participating in the grand performances category, showcasing the diversity of genres and themes addressed by Arab participants.

The festival goes beyond stage performances and includes training workshops led by theater experts, including an improvisation workshop conducted by Tunisian director Fadhel Jaibi. These activities aim to develop local talent and foster cultural exchange among the participating artists, thus reinforcing the international vocation of the festival in Salalah.

The first prize was awarded to the Tataouine Center for Dramatic and Scenic Arts for the play "Raâi Essahra" (The Desert Shepherd), directed by Aida Jebli, which won the jury prize. As for the play "Blackout," produced by the National Puppet Art Center, it received the award for best direction, honoring playwright Mounir Argui.

In October 2023, the Darat al-Funun gallery in Amman dedicated a significant part of its activities to Palestine in commemoration of the ongoing war in Gaza. These events included art exhibitions, workshops, and film screenings. One of the highlights was the screening of Life is Beautiful (2023) by Palestinian director Mohammed Jabaly, which explores the effects of war and exile on Palestinians, particularly the people of Gaza.

A collective exhibition titled Under Fire, inaugurated on October 17, showcased works by four artists from Gaza: Basel al-Maqousi, Majed Shala, Raed Issa, and Suhail Salem. Despite the war, these artists continued to create, reflecting the resilience and strength of the inhabitants of the territory.

In parallel, from October 19, the gallery organized drawing and storytelling workshops for children every Saturday until November 23 under the theme Palestinian Folktales. These workshops aimed to stimulate children’s imaginations while teaching them about Palestinian cultural heritage through art and traditional stories.

These events highlight Darat al-Funun’s commitment to supporting Palestinian culture and promoting artistic resistance in the face of adversity.

The King Salman International Academy for the Arabic Language launched its "Month of the Arabic Language" program in France on October 7, 2024. This initiative aims to promote and enhance the teaching of the Arabic language by developing educational programs and strengthening the skills of teachers. The program includes visits to universities and educational centers in France, allowing academy representatives to meet educators and improve the Arabic learning experience.

In addition to this initiative in France, the academy is also organizing its third international conference in Riyadh, focusing on Arabic language computing and enriching linguistic data. This event brings together experts to discuss innovations in natural language processing technologies and artificial intelligence models applied to Arabic. The goal is to modernize and improve academic practices in Arabic-speaking countries by leveraging technological advancements.

Point 1) The Lebanese Ministry of Culture has asked UNESCO to take measures to protect Lebanese cultural sites, especially those listed as World Heritage sites. These sites are threatened by recent Israeli attacks, which have affected historic villages and natural sites such as olive groves and vineyards. Several religious monuments and historical buildings, such as the Citadel of Tebnine and archaeological sites in Baalbek, have also been damaged. The ministry is calling for strengthened protection measures.

Point 2) On October 10, two pro-Palestinian activists from the organization Youth Demand, Jay Hallay (23 years old) and Monday Malaki Rosenfeld (21 years old), staged a symbolic action at the National Gallery in London to denounce the ongoing war in Gaza. They covered the famous painting Motherhood (1901) by Pablo Picasso with a poignant photograph of a Palestinian mother holding her bloodied child in a hospital after an Israeli attack. This image, taken by Palestinian journalist Ali Jadallah, has become a symbol of the civilian suffering in the Gaza Strip.

After attaching the photograph to the glass protecting Picasso’s painting, Rosenfeld poured red paint on the museum floor to symbolize the blood spilled during the attacks. The activists were quickly apprehended by the police after museum guards raised the alarm. According to reports, Picasso’s painting was not damaged.

During the intervention, Jay Hallay chanted “Free Palestine”, while Rosenfeld revealed a t-shirt bearing the message “Stop Arming Israel.” She also voiced her opposition to the UK’s military support for Israel, accusing the British government of complicity in the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza. Rosenfeld, who identifies as Jewish, emphasized that her action was driven by a desire to remind people that the atrocities in Gaza should not be carried out “in the name of Jews.”

This action echoes similar protests held earlier in the year at museums, including at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, although Picasso’s painting is the first work from a major museum to be targeted in this way.

Alfred Tarazi presents an immersive and experimental cinematic work that blurs the line between documentary and artistic creation. Titled "A Lover’s Manifesto to Beirut," the film interrogates the role of images in Lebanon’s traumatic history. The film unfolds on three simultaneous screens, using superimposed images to explore Beirut’s memory as a central character. It focuses on periods of the Cold War, armed struggles, and sexual liberation in Lebanon, symbolized by figures such as Miss Universe Georgina Rizk and her connection to Palestinian militant Ali Hassan Salameh. These intertwined narratives allow Tarazi to weave a complex story that parallels the struggles for freedom, whether it be for territory or the body.

"A Lover's Manifesto to Beirut" is the result of ten years of work. Tarazi collaborated with Lokman Slim, UMAM, Monika Borgmann, and the Beryt project of UNESCO. Four additional segments are planned, for which funding is needed.

In addition to being a visual work, Tarazi’s project is a reflection on the preservation of Lebanon’s cultural memory, a mission he considers urgent in the face of the threats of this heritage’s disappearance. Through this exploration, he emphasizes the importance of documenting and safeguarding the visual and cultural history of Beirut, a testimony he hopes to share beyond borders to raise awareness of the richness of Lebanese heritage and the necessity to protect it.

Exhibition Concept: This exhibition delves into the topic of migration in the Mediterranean from the lesser-known perspective of "return." Through objects, works of art, and life stories, it seeks to explore the complexity of “returning” experiences, caught between uprooting and re-rooting, practicality and imagination, national governance, and individual aspirations. The exhibition seeks to interrogate these plural, circular, non-linear realities, sometimes obstructed, sometimes diverted, which engage with the notion of home, its recognition, and its transposition, while also reflecting on the memories and dreams closely tied to it. The exhibition brings together objects kept in public collections, intimate items, family documents, and contemporary creations by artists whose practices echo their personal experiences of exile and return.

The core of the project is the "Mediterranean Migration Returns" research-collecting project, which has allowed five teams of researchers to work in France, Italy, North Macedonia, Greece, Galilee, and the West Bank.
They have gathered objects, documents, films, photographs, and testimonies, which are complemented by sensitive cartographic interpretations created by Philippe Rekacewicz, highlighting individual and collective biographical trajectories observed during the research.

The exhibition's curation is led by Giulia Fabbiano, lecturer at IDEAS, AMU, and Camille Faucourt, curator in charge of the Mobilities and Mixing section at the Mucem. Scenography: Claudine Bertomeu. Artists featured: Farid Adjoud, Ariella Aïsha Azoulay, Bissane Al Charif, Zeina Barakeh, Taysir Batniji, Benji Boyadgian, the Decolonizer collective (Eitan Bronstein Aparicio, Eléonore Merza Bronstein, and Ali Abu), Khaled Dawwa, Rima Djahnine, Sabyl Ghoussoub, Eliot Nasrallah, Malik Nejmi, Amer Shomali, Tanya Traboulsi, Sofiane Zouggar. On the occasion of the opening on Friday, October 18, a special evening will be organized at the Mucem, featuring a concert with the group Bakir, a trio mixing electronic and instrumental music from Morocco and Marseille; a live techno performance by Olkan & La Vipère Rouge; and a presentation of the exhibition by the curators.

« Revenir » © passeport – photo David Giancatarina © Sfeir-Semler Gallery Hamburg/Beirut © Adagp, Paris, 2024 et archives famille Ghoussoub Feghali © Collections du Muse national de l’histoire de l’immigration – Établissement public du Palais de la Porte Dorée.

Since its inception, 1-54 has become a leading voice in the global conversation on contemporary African art and has been at the forefront of the African art market with annual editions across three continents.

This year’s London edition will feature over 60 international exhibitors representing 23 countries, including 21 new galleries making their debut at 1-54 London. Newcomers include ADA Gallery (Accra, Ghana), Amasaka Gallery (Masaka, Uganda), Art Pantheon Gallery (Lagos, Nigeria), Cynthia Corbett Gallery (London), Galerie REVEL (Bordeaux, France), and House of Beau (Rabat, Morocco), among others.

Highlights:

Sharjah Biennale 15
Curators Natasha Ginwala, Amal Khalaf, and Zeynep Öz focus on oceanic geographies connecting the Gulf to the coasts of Africa and South Asia, as well as sound migrations, diasporic memory preservation, and water-bound infrastructures. One featured artist, Cassi Namoda, addresses themes of Luso-African narratives and postcolonial matrilineal histories.

Noteworthy Artists:

• Fathi Hassan (born in Cairo, 1957): Hassan explores migration, loss of identity, and cultural memory, particularly focusing on ancient languages erased by colonization.
• Abderrahim Trifis (born in 1974 in Sidi Mokhtar, Morocco): A self-taught artist, Trifis draws on his nomadic heritage to create dreamlike works, blending abstraction with figurative elements.
• Khaled Hafez (born in 1963 in Cairo, Egypt): A former doctor turned artist, Hafez’s work centers on sociopolitical themes in Egypt, expressed through painting, video, and sculpture.
• Nabil El Makhloufi (born in 1973 in Fes, Morocco): Living in Leipzig, Germany, El Makhloufi’s art explores themes of migration, cultural identity, and human aspirations through vivid compositions.
• Alia Ali (Yemeni-Bosnian-American artist): Based in Marrakech, New Orleans, and Jaipur, Ali’s work questions linguistic dualities, identity, futurism, and citizenship.
• Houda Terjuman (Morocco): Terjuman’s work explores themes of identity, displacement, and the search for stability, drawing on her multicultural background to create art that expresses the balance between home and exile.
• Khaled Zaki (Egyptian sculptor): Zaki’s work blends influences from Egyptian antiquity, the Renaissance, and modernism, producing powerful bronze sculptures.

Palestinian painter Fayez Sersawi has inaugurated his exhibition "Gaza Draws" in Amman, Jordan, a series of over 100 paintings created during the Israeli bombings in Gaza. The exhibition, held at the Jabal al-Lweibdeh gallery until October 25, is part of the "War Diaries in Gaza" project, initiated by the publishing house Dar Tadween. This project aims to immortalize the experiences of Gazans through artistic and literary works, documenting the horrors of war.

Visitors to the exhibition, captivated by Sersawi's work, emphasize how his paintings convey not only the pain and suffering of Gaza's residents but also stories of survival and hope. Nesrine Milhem, one of the spectators, noted that despite the apparent simplicity of the pieces, they successfully transport the audience directly into the streets and homes of Gaza, offering a perspective often absent from media coverage.

Sersawi's works, created far from the traditional studio, aim to capture the brutality of events without embellishment. For the artist, painting is a form of resistance and testimony, a way to document and preserve the history of his people. He views his paintings as "visual diaries" that record the reality of conflict and the suffering of Gazans while incorporating elements of his daily surroundings—from alleyways to familiar faces.

The Palestinian artist explains that his works are designed as an act of resistance against forces that seek to erase Palestinian identity. According to him, every line and color expresses rejection of occupation and the ongoing quest for freedom. His art, far from being a mere aesthetic expression, is presented as a struggle against oblivion and a call to the collective international conscience.

In parallel, Dar Tadween's director, Moussa Hawamdeh, explains that the initiative aims to support Palestinian artists in Gaza by allowing them to share their work with the rest of the world, despite Israel's attempts to suppress Palestinian culture. He describes Sersawi's works as a "screaming denunciation" of the crimes committed against the Palestinian people, a visual testimony of atrocities that words often fail to capture.

The exhibition is accompanied by other cultural events, including literary and poetic evenings focused on the Palestinian cause and the devastating impact of Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.

From October 13 to 31, the 45th edition of the Asilah Moussem is taking place. It brings together around 300 personalities from the worlds of culture, politics, and the arts for several colloquia and exhibitions. Notable discussions include:

• "The Border Crisis in Africa" (October 13-14)
• "Arab Diaspora Elites" (October 17-18)
• "Artificial Intelligence in Africa" (October 23)

Artistically, the event highlights the plastic arts with engraving and lithography workshops. 25 international artists from countries such as Spain, Bahrain, Belgium, and Morocco will participate. Modern art exhibitions will be held at the Palace of Culture, featuring works by Malika Agzenai and Akemi Noguchi (Japan). Additionally, a children's workshop, "Talents of the Moussem," will be organized in the gardens of the Palace.

The Festival of Ancient Kingdoms of AlUla, presented by AlUla Moments, will take place from November 7 to 30, 2024. The festival offers a rich array of immersive experiences in the heart of AlUla's heritage sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Nabatean city of Hegra and Wadi Al-Naam, renowned for its rock art.

Highlights of the festival include a drone show at Hegra, illuminating the monuments with an audiovisual production. The Hegra Candlelit Classics experience will also feature candlelit concerts, providing an intimate setting for enjoying classical music in a unique environment.

The program includes various activities such as parades, treasure hunts, yoga sessions at Jabal Ikmah, and aerial tours of the Nabatean tombs. Additionally, an exhibition titled "Masterpieces from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples at Maraya" will present artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum for the first time in Saudi Arabia.

The seventh edition of Jaou Tunis, titled "The Voices of Resistance," takes place from October 9 to November 9, 2024, in Tunis. The event features nine exhibitions scattered across symbolic locations in the city, using art as a tool of resistance against cultural erasure and oppression. Among the artists, Gabrielle Goliath and Taous Dahmani explore the themes of patriarchal violence and popular uprisings in the SWANA region.

This year, the festival resonates more internationally, especially following the participation of Euro-MP Rima Hassan. She presents an immersive and interactive installation that explores the resilience of struggling peoples, in connection with the Palestinian question. Her work, mixing video projections, sounds, and organic materials, offers a space where visitors can interact and immerse themselves in a unique sensory experience. Titled "Fragments of a Refuge," her exhibition is organized into three parts: first, raw documentation around the Palestinian cause; then, an interpretation of images taken by Rima Hassan of Palestinian refugees by an artificial intelligence; and finally, an interactive dimension, engaging the spectator in a dialogue between human and digitally generated narratives.

Also worth seeing is the exhibition by Salah Zedine. The Tunisian artist presents a series of paintings focused on resistance throughout the Arab world, highlighting popular struggles against oppression. His works, rich in symbols and vivid colors, capture the essence of social movements and revolutions, offering a visual interpretation of the resilience and hope of the peoples.

Mariam Ben Hafsia, dancer and choreographer, performs a contemporary piece inspired by protests and popular gatherings. Her choreographic work will focus on the movements of collective and individual bodies, translating through dance the strength and solidarity of social struggles. A dynamic and engaging experience, offering a reflection on the power of bodily expression in resistance contexts.

Omar El Fares, a multimedia artist from Lebanon, showcases an audiovisual installation titled "Fragments," which explores the fragmentation of identity within conflict-ridden societies. Using audio recordings, visual projections, and found objects, his work seeks to deconstruct and reconstruct the collective history of struggling peoples. This installation will be an immersive exploration, encouraging visitors to reflect on questions of loss, memory, and rebirth.

Finally, Al Jaou offers an exhibition dedicated to new media, presenting digital art works, documentary podcasts, and interactive digital installations. Artists and journalists from various countries will explore how technologies and digital platforms are used in resistance contexts, particularly in Palestine. This section will highlight the importance of these tools in amplifying the voices of the oppressed and in creating international solidarity networks.

“The governments have betrayed us, where are the people?” asked Syrian revolutionaries.

In an international dynamic where it is rare to find harmony between governments and their populations on global issues – climate change, feminist struggle, the Palestinian cause, anti-colonialism, etc. – The People Want brings civil society back to the forefront of the debate. These internationalist gatherings return for a 5th edition in Marseille, after plans to fully decentralize the event from the West to the East failed due to the ongoing war between Israel and Lebanon, making it impossible to hold the festival in Beirut.
“Marseille it is then! A city of resistance and migration, a crossroads of the Global South. With sixty invited guests from over 40 countries, we will gather to discuss exiled political organizations, imperialism, and liberation from Kanaky, Taiwan, Palestine, or Georgia. We will address how to reinvigorate queer and feminist struggles in the face of co-optation threats, how to resist fascist offensives, and how to give substance to a revolutionary movement that is both already here and yet to be built. Discussions, exhibitions, workshops, and radio broadcasts.” The event will take place on October 26 and 27 in Marseille, and entry is free. The full program can be found on Instagram. Instagram.

Saturday:
9 AM: Opening
9:45 AM: Roundtable #1: Weaving Transnational Alliances from Exile — followed by a workshop at 12 PM
12:15 PM: Walk: A Political History of the Aygalades Stream
12:30 PM: Radio broadcast
2:15 PM: Presentation of The People Want
3 PM: Roundtable #2 (Part 1): Cartographies of the Global War Regime: At the Heart of Imperial and Colonial War Zones
5:15 PM: Roundtable #2 (Part 2): Cartographies of the Global War Regime: Specters of Empires
8:30 PM: Evening event
2 AM: Closing

Sunday:
10:30 AM: Brunch
11:45 AM: Roundtable #3: Resisting Imperialism and Instrumentalization in Queer Struggles — followed by a workshop at 2 PM
4:15 PM: Roundtable #4: What Continuity Exists in a Revolutionary Movement?
6:30 PM: Closing remarks
7 PM: End

Maryam Bisharat won the gold medal at the World Karate League Championships for the junior and under-21 categories, held in the Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. This first edition of the World Karate League Championship featured 1,196 athletes from 67 countries worldwide.