Instagram story viewer> @thenewarabfeatures> Tagged

The New Arab Features

@thenewarabfeatures

4.7K

followers

477

following

From interviews, to book reviews, all the latest in art, film, culture & history and society stories, this is @thenewarab Features section

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

The 6th edition of the Lebanese Film Festival (@festivalfilmlibanais) in France took place in Paris from October 13–18, bringing together 47 films that celebrated the diversity and richness of Lebanese cinema.

Featuring new works, restored classics, documentaries and short films, the festival explored themes of memory, displacement, war, identity and the changing realities of Lebanese society.

This year’s edition also honoured acclaimed Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki (@nadinelabaki) with a retrospective of three of her films, while creating space for conversations between filmmakers, artists and audiences.

At a time when Lebanon continues to face tragedy, conflict and humanitarian crises, the festival served as an essential space for preserving the country’s collective memory, supporting Lebanese artists and sharing the stories, struggles and imaginations that shape its identity.

We speak to Sarah Hajjar (@sarah.hajjar.fflf) president of France's Festival of Lebanese Cinema to find out more.

Report by @ssadek19

119

4

What does a line on a map tell us about the lives lived around it?

On the latest episode of The New Arab Book Club, @elias_jahshan chats with Egyptian novelist Shady Lewis (@shadylewisbotros) about his critically acclaimed novel On the Greenwich Line — a story where bureaucracy, migration and death meet deadpan humour, and the Greenwich Meridian becomes a way to question the borders we take for granted.

Originally published in Arabic in 2020, On The Greenwich line was translated into English by Katherine Halls and published in 2025 and earlier this year it won the prestigious James Tait Black Prize, one of the oldest literary prizes in Britain.

Head over to The New Arab’s YouTube channel to watch the full interview 🔗 link in bio

82

3

Artists, writers, curators and students gathered in Venice on 10 October for a Biennale Sessions event exploring Arab cultural expression and the growing influence of Arab artistic practices within contemporary art.

Titled “Rewriting Contemporary Art: Shifting Paradigms through Arab Artistic and Curatorial Practices”, the event was organised by curator and journalist Alba Nabulsi in collaboration with Ca’ Foscari University, with support from The New Arab and Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Discussions explored cultural identity, political resistance and the role of literature, journalism and music in amplifying Arab voices. Speakers included Algerian author Amal Bouchareb and artist Ibrahim Fakhri, The New Arab’s creative manager.

The programme also included visits to Arab national pavilions and musical performances, connecting contemporary artistic practices with wider debates about representation and cultural exchange.

70

5

‘Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother’ is a new film about an assassin and father of three, Latif — played by Oscar-winning Mahershala Ali (@mahershalaali) — who sets off on a chaotic journey to protect his children after his wife dies.

Directed by Bassam Tariq (@curry_crayola), the thriller carries themes of grief, conflict, fatherhood and faith.

We headed off to its red carpet and screening at the BFI this weekend, where we met some of the cast and production team, including John Cho (@johnthecho), Adia and producer Lucan Toh.

Here’s what they had to say 🎥

#YourMotherYourMotherYourMother #MahershalaAli #BassamTariq #BFI #LondonPremiere #FilmPremiere #FilmInterviews

87

3

Palestinian visual artist and calligrapher Alaziz Atef launched his new exhibition, Exhaustion”, in Ramallah on 17 October.

The exhibition features a wide range of artworks, including installations, sketches and different artistic mediums. Most of the work is crafted from gauze used on murals, canvases, installations, and more, in a reference to Gaza, from where the material is believed to have originated.

The artist spoke exclusively to The New Arab about his exhibition and how the mural forms part of a puzzle about Palestine, and about the exhaustion imposed by Israel on Palestinians.

By Wahaj Bani Moufleh @wahaj_bani_moufleh @alaziz_atef

308

6

A warehouse in Southern Thailand’s Malay-Muslim province of Pattani recently became the site of a tribute to Palestinian child Hind Rajab, a child killed by Israeli forces in 2024.

Pattani, once a Malay sultanate, is today the site of one of Southeast Asia’s longest running internal conflicts. Army checkpoints and frequent raids by Thai forces are an everyday reality for its Malay-Muslim majority. And for local artist and activist, Jehabdulloh Jehsorhoh, the Palestinian cause is the symbol of a joint struggle.

Taring Padi, the Indonesian art collective behind the ‘Tragedi 335’ tribute to Hind, say Indonesia’s own experience of genocide inspires continued support towards the plight of Palestinians.

1k

33

Why is it that the Palestinian cause has a special place in the hearts and minds of Algerians?

On the latest episode of The New Arab Book Club, @elias_jahshan speaks to Algerian researcher-activist Hamza Hamouchene, co-editor of ‘Towards Palestinian Liberation’, a new anthology bringing together scholars and activists to situate Palestine within a wider history of anti-colonial resistance, anti-imperialism and global solidarity.

Head over to The New Arab’s YouTube channel to watch the full interview 🔗 link in bio

827

15

For many in the Algerian diaspora, cultural heritage is shaped by what gets passed down at home, what risks being forgotten, and what new generations choose to reclaim.

DzFest (@dzfest), a UK-based festival celebrating Algerian arts and culture, creates a space for these conversations, bringing together artists and audiences to explore Algerian identity through creative expression.

We spoke to founder Rachida Lamri (@dida0223) about the ideas behind this year’s programme and the importance of making Algerian culture more visible in the UK.

314

48

In episode one of Yalla! Let’s Eat, a new food mini-series from The New Arab’s Features desk exploring food across the MENA region, Zainab Mehdi (@zaiamehdi_) and Nadda Osman (@naddaxosman) head out to discover five London spots for a Middle Eastern brunch.

From Lebanese bakery classics to Iraqi breakfast staples, where are your go-to spots for a Middle Eastern brunch in London?

Tune in for episode two, coming soon.

171

20

Lebanese singer and oud musician Marcel Khalife has re-recorded his renowned album ‘Promises of the Storm’ to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The album will be released on 20th November, ahead of Marcel’s touring it in the UK early next year.

But why re-record it? and what can you expect from it?

We headed to his listening session at @IbraazLondon to find out from the musician himself @khalifemarcel.

354

9

Three years on, the impact of Israel’s genocide in Gaza may extend beyond those who survive it.

Scientists and doctors warn that prolonged stress, malnutrition and exposure to pollutants could have lasting biological effects, potentially affecting future generations.

The question is not just how a generation survives war, but how its effects endure long after it ends.

90

6

Three years into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the streets of Malaga filled with people demanding an end to the killing and showing their solidarity with Palestine.

The Sunday 4 October demo was organised by Voces Palestinas Málaga, (@voces_palestinas_malaga), a 2023- founded collective of Spanish and Palestinian members, highlighting the Palestinian cause and the catastrophe Gaza in through mass protests, cultural events and other activities.

The New Arab joined protesters and organisers from @voces_palestinas_malaga, to hear why they continue to take to the streets and what keeps them coming back.

398

30