Oscar-winning Palestinian director freed from Israeli detention after night in custody Hamdan Ballal, a co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," was assaulted by Israeli settlers and later detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank as the Israeli army continues its raids in the Palestinian territory. Palestine
Palestinian-Israeli documentary, Iranian film win at Oscars: What to know Two films from the Middle East won Oscars at Sunday's Academy Awards, highlighting the growing reputation of the region's film industry at a time of ongoing tensions and crises. Palestine
Lebanon's resistance through culture: Return of Beirut’s Metropolis Cinema As Beirut continues to navigate its path toward recovery, Metropolis Cinema stands as a symbol of the enduring power of art and culture to resist, unite and inspire. Lebanon
Analysis How Saudiwood’s power play is reshaping Middle East film industry While the country's first entry at Cannes didn’t win, its inclusion in the festival was another step toward Saudi ambitions to become a film industry powerhouse. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Istanbul residents opt for New Year's celebrations on water Due to rising prices and security and sexual harassment concerns, a growing number of middle-class Turks will ring in the new year on the Bosporus. Turkey
Theater returns to Idlib A group of actors has formed the Syrian Troupe for Theatrical Arts and performed recently for the children in Idlib. Syria
Creating hipster culture in an old tobacco factory in Sulaimaniyah Sulaimaniyah's defunct tobacco factory celebrates its second year as an arts and culture center. Iraq
Why Turkey's performance artists take to streets Turkey’s best-known performance art work is the dignified immobility of a man at the height of the Gezi Park protests five years ago; many young artists have followed in his footsteps since. Turkey
What made this Iranian TV host lose his job? A young state TV host is fired from his job after he criticized one of the most outspoken cinema critics of Iran. Iran
Tunisian documentary smashes taboos with gay love story Nasreddine Shili’s hyperreal documentary takes a tender look at homosexuality, poverty and drug use in Tunis slums. Tunisia
Egypt's oldest festival makes room for women directors The Cairo International Film Festival is putting female directors in the spotlight this year, including adding a section dedicated to their works. Egypt
Egypt’s pottery village explores with art in yearly festival Egypt’s celebrated pottery center, the village of Tunis, holds an annual art festival that now features crafts from calligraphy to wood carving. Egypt
Baghdad artists reimagine Iraq in the public sphere From dangerous migrations by sea to the prevalence of plastic waste, young Iraqi artists highlight past and present troubles through street art. Iraq
Iraqi artists, volunteers seek to restore morale in Mosul Singers, poets and volunteers try to revive pluralism in Mosul but old wounds, particularly between different religious groups, linger on. Iraq
Palestinian Museum revives solidarity posters with new workshop, exhibit The Palestinian Museum hosted a workshop for young artists interested in creating the "Palestinian posters" popular in recent decades, lending new life to the compelling images and deep symbolism of the art form. Palestine
