Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Only one Arab movie makes Oscar cut The Middle East war often flares up on the big screen between the forces of the racist communications savvy Israel and the oppressed people of Palestine and the Arab World. But this year, only one movie has made it to the partisan prejudices of the corrupt Western World,…
Interview with the filmmakers of “Holy Air” Holy Air is a satirically sad and humorous look at Christian life in Israel. Movie review of “Holy Air” by writer and producer Shady Srour and Director Ilan Moskovitch. Arabic, English and Hebrew. Also a Podcast Interview with Srour and Moskovitch about the challenges of making a film…
World Premiere set for film “Naila and the Uprising” A Story of the Hidden Role Women Played in the Nonviolent Movement of the First Intifada receives World Premiere at DOC NYC. Film Screens at DOC NYC and IDFA in Lead-up to 30th Anniversary of First Intifada; Subjects Naila Ayesh & Zahira Kamal in New York for Premiere Just Vision…
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Producers examining abuse of Blacks in Israel need funding We urgently need your support. Existence is Resistance is raising funds for the filming of our new documentary Black in the Holy Land. This film will examine the lives and experiences of the various black communities throughout Palestine and the settler state of Israel. We are…
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American Arabs mourn passing of author Jack Shaheen A former consultant on Middle East Affairs for CBS Network News, Jack G. Shaheen was an accomplished professor of Mass Communications at Southern Illinois University who helped shatter stereotypes against Arabs, Muslims and other ethnic groups by exposing the biases of Hollywood and the American media. By…
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“In Our Hands: The Battle for Jerusalem,” is a docudrama produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network/CBN which made over $1.6 million on its first day premiering in 733 cinemas. Gordon Robertson, the CEO of CBN said he hoped the movie would “point people toward God and start a conversation about Middle Eastern foreign policy.” “The…
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Middle East Human Rights Film Fest June 9-18 THE 2017 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL, Co-presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center and IFC Center, June 9-18, 2017. 21 Films & Discussions Showcase Courageous Activists During Challenging Times New York, May 9, 2017 – The Human Rights Watch Film Festival will be presented June 9-18, 2017 with 21…
US sitcom showcases American Arab character A new comedy sitcom on CBS TV showcases an American Arab character played by well known standup comedian Maz Jobrani, and includes some major stars in the comedic entertainment circuit. The show Superior Donuts is getting some strong reviews in its first season By Ray Hanania A new comedy sitcom…
HBO releases new documentary on Syria HBO will premier a new documentary on the civil war in Syria called Cries from Syria, to be broadcast on March 13th at 10:00pm ET/PT. (Trailer video below) Cries of Syria, Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky (Academy Award Nominee for 2015’s Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom) In March 2011, the Syrian people, inspired…
The Power of Hollywood Movies in the Palestine & Middle East conflicts Ray Hanania’s podcast is an audio version of his column published Jan. 26, 2017 in the Arab News in Saudi Arabia. It discusses the power of movies and how they can significantly alter, change and impact the beliefs of the American people. Why…
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Can a Muslim woman marry a Non-Muslim Man? By Mike Ghouse This article brings serious discussion about marriage of single Muslim women in America in general and women in their forties and fifties in particular. There are not enough Muslim men out there, and interfaith marriage is one of the few viable options, and most…
Plight of Syrians competes for Oscar This year’s Academy Awards Oscar presentation of Hollywood Film Oscars includes only two submissions addressing Arab World issues, one on the plight of Syrian refugees and the terrorist war in Aleppo, Syria, and the other a historical drama set during the Algerian civil war of the 1990s. By Ray Hanania Once again…
An expensive television Christmas Story A new generation’s “Christmas Story,” not about Santa Claus or the spirit of kindness, but about the way our utilities control our lives with no accountability and definitely no really good service. This one is about Comcast/Xfinity but it could be about them all Published in the Des Plaines Valley…
Solar Eclipse sneak peek at Dubai Film Festival Solar Eclipse Teaser released at Dubai Film Festival on 8th December 2016 The Dubai film festival saw the release of the teaser of the epic film ‘Solar Eclipse – Depth of Darkness’, based on true events that led to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on 30th January, 1948….
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The FX Series Tyrant which features many Arab actors and actresses is the most racist and viciously anti-Arab series on Television. The series, which is in its second season, is the work of an anti-Arab hater and Israeli producer Howard Gordon and writer Gideon Raff. The show was rumored to have been cancelled after last season’s…
“A Thousand and One Journeys: The Arab Americans” to premiere on American television on WTTW Channel 11 in Chicago on Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 pm “A Thousand and One Journeys: The Arab Americans,” touted as the first historical full-length documentary about Arab Americans produced in United States, will make its American television premiere on WTTW11…
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BoomGen’s debut television series Of Kings and Prophets, executive produced by BoomGen cofounders Reza Aslan and Mahyad Tousi premieres on ABC on Tuesday, March 8 at 10pm. For the last eight years we have had the privilege to work with you (members of media and civil society) on incredible projects such as The Square, Rosewater, All-American…
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Can Palestinians and Israelis come together to make peace? It’s a difficult question to find an answer to, but filmmaker Harvey Stein explores this difficult but important topic in his new film “A Third Way.” By Ray Hanania I met Israeli filmmaker Harvey Stein during my foray into the contentious world of Israeli-Palestinian peace in…