Missing from most worst films of 2025 lists is Lotfy Nathan’s The Carpenter’s Son, yet another catastrophic attempt by Middle Eastern filmmakers to crack Hollywood.

Such a great interview and profile. Rest in power, Mohammad Bakri.

And so fate would have it that, a few months before his passing, I spoke with him for BFI in the most emotional interview I conducted this year. RIP the great Mohammad Bakri. Palestinian and Arab culture is gonna be significantly poorer without you. www.bfi.org.uk/interviews/q...

Excellent, illuminating read on Iran's state-sponsored film festival Fajr and the fluctuating position of filmmakers towards the conditional public funding. In Arabic. raseef22.net/article/1101...

One of the most underrated rockers of the '90ies. Road to Hell and The Blue Cafes are forgotten masterpieces. RIP #ChrisRea www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCQ0...

For the latest issue of @IEMed's Afkar magazine, I wrote about how the aftermath of October 7 was translated into a prickly cinematic war in which the ethics of representation are constantly called into question. Only in Spanish. www.politicaexterior.com/articulo/la-...

In my monthly column, "Cinema, Etcetera," I finally gathered all my thoughts to write about "The Voice of Hind Rajab." I realise the floodgates of hell will open up on me because of this, but the intention of the piece is to invite a different conversation (Contid)

Trump's statement about Rob Reiner shows the depth of his trench. USA, you elected someone who has no idea how to be a decent human being. Trump is destroying your humanity.

I said some things about "The Voice of Hind Rajab" to @vulture.com. More in my monthly column later this month. www.vulture.com/article/the-...

To mark my new Al Bustan Seeds of Culture column, "Cinema, Etcetera", monthly film screenings of the latest and finest and most daring Arab cinema will commence this month in our headquarters in South Kensington.

In my latest Al Bustan Seeds of Culture column, I explore why an Arab-American cinema never materialized and examine the dominant Sunni–Muslim–heterosexual–male gaze that continues to shape the works made by diasporic Arabs in the U.S. www.albustanseeds.org/news/whereis...

In my latest Al Bustan Seeds of Culture column, I explore why an Arab-American cinema never materialized and examine the dominant Sunni–Muslim–heterosexual–male gaze that continues to shape the works made by diasporic Arabs in the U.S. www.albustanseeds.org/news/whereis...

To mark BFI’s current season of melodramas, I wrote about how Egypt’s storied tradition of melodramas reflected the spirit of a nation seldom in control of its own destiny, while also serving as a vehicle for championing women’s emancipation. www.bfi.org.uk/features/aro...

Joseph Fahim on Bassem Youssef www.middleeasteye.net/discover/bas...

On Bassem Youssef's unceremonious return to Egyptian TV, the morally flawed logic behind his defence of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and the asymmetrical relationship between two cultures fighting for more freedoms. My latest. For @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social www.middleeasteye.net/discover/bas...

Lotfy Nathan's heart-wrenching Tunisian 'Harka' showed so much potential. But of course he had to go to Hollywood and churn out this piece of utter abomination. The track record of Arab filmmakers in Hollywood continues to be dismal. youtu.be/6wb7ctqNSfs?...

Fuck this fucking coward, I hope he gets crushed in a primary by a Palestinian bodega owner from Bay Ridge

Wrote about the Arab films featured in fall fest season, including Yanis Koussim's brilliantly unhinged Algerian horror 'Roqia' and Said Zagha's daring Palestinian thriller 'Coyotes,' winner of best short at #LFF2025 For @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social www.middleeasteye.net/discover/roq...

This is damning. By Ai Weiwei. hyperallergic.com/1050197/what...

Some thoughts on 'One Battle After Another' for my monthly column for Al Bustan Seeds of Culture while asking the question that hasn't left me since watching the picture: Where did all the angry, insubordinate Arab films go? www.albustanseeds.org/news/arabcin...

Thrilled and honoured to have written the essay for the @criterion.bsky.social's release of Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina's masterwork 'Chronicle of the Year of Fire', the sole Arab and African Palme d'Or winner. A big thank you to my wonderful editor Imogen Sara Smith. Out on January 20, 2026.

My @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social piece on how October 7 and #Gaza forever changed Hollywood's relationship to Israel and the Palestinian narrative, translated into Portuguese by @portaldesacato.bsky.social. desacato.info/como-israel-...

My @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social piece on how October 7 and #Gaza forever changed Hollywood's relationship to Israel and the Palestinian narrative, translated into Turkish by @gazeteoksijen.com. gazeteoksijen.com/o2/hollywood...

As the ceasefire finally comes into effect,I wrote about how October 7 and Gaza changed Hollywood's relationship to Israel and the Palestinian narrative while also raising questions about the ethics of funding. My latest. For @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social www.middleeasteye.net/discover/how...

Only fitting way to react to this scum. youtu.be/ZGczX15Xu8M?...

It's imperfect and one key character needed substantial development to have a stronger political statement, but overall, loved it! The most fiercely political American mainstream film of the year. Sean Penn steals the show. Must watch on 70 mm. youtu.be/kQUPdVxZNPk?...

The battle of Palestinian Oscar hopefuls has officially begun. www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

You can't make this shit up. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

One of the best films of the year and the best German pic I've seen in many years. Astonishing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdnO...

For the October issue of @sightsoundmag.bsky.social, I wrote in the Lost and Found section about Borhane Alaouié's criminally neglected 1981 classic 'Beirut the Encounter', the great romantic drama of the Civil War period that remains as pertinent as ever. www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-so...

For BFI, I wrote something brief about Yanis Koussim's brilliant Algerian horror 'Roqia,' one of the most startling discoveries of #venicefilmfestival2025. www.bfi.org.uk/lists/6-disc...

I fuckin give up. www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/article...

Alright folks. Here's the first entry of my new film column with Albustan Seeds of Culture, in which I write more on Kamal Aljafari's brilliant 'With Hasan in Gaza,' the importance of experimental Arab cinema for the current political discourse. www.albustanseeds.org/news/experim...

Alright folks. Here's the first entry of my new film column with Albustan Seeds of Culture, in which I write more on Kamal Aljafari's brilliant 'With Hasan in Gaza,' the importance of experimental Arab cinema for the current political discourse. www.albustanseeds.org/news/experim...

Not surprised one bit. www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

No more luxury jets for him then. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

The best film won #VeniceFilmFestival2025's Golden Lion. There, I said it. Fuckin sue me.

Included in my #VeniceFilmFestival2025 coverage is my take on Cyril Aris' Lebanese 'A Sad and Beautiful World' which just earned the @giornate's People’s Choice Award. I love the film, and for my money, it's the best Arab love story in many years. www.middleeasteye.net/discover/nor...

First roundup of Middle Eastern films of #VeniceFilmFestival2025, featuring mini reviews of Hijra, A Sad and Beautiful World, My Father and Qaddafi, and Past, Future Continuous, along with coverage of the Gaza-related events. For @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social www.middleeasteye.net/discover/nor...

Will be writing my thoughts about it in full soon but this is film that a lot of people will and must watch.A film that does have the power to convert. It's a film certainly not made for me,nor would I wanna watch it ever again. #Venezia82 More later www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/20...

Ozu is not just my favourite filmmaker, he's the reason why I still love and believe in cinema as an art form. As expected, this was exceedingly emotional and moving. And it left me fucking sobbing! One of the very best films I've seen in #Venice82 www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/20...

'No Other Choice' is Park Chan-wook's 'Parasite': a stylistically entrancing anti-cacapitalist parable peppered with deliciously macabre set-pieces. His funniest, most political picture to day. Total riot. #VeniceFilmFestival #Venezia82 www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U77...

Hello Venice.

Thrilled to announce 'Cinema, Etcetera', a new monthly column with Philly's Al Bustan Seeds of Culture. Expect more coverage of Middle Eastern and Middle Eastern-related cinema in relation to the American cultural landscape. Stayed tuned for my first entry. www.albustanseeds.org/news/ziadrah...

Paul Laverty was wearing this very T-shirt at the Edinburgh Film Festival talk I moderated with him, Ken Loach and Rebecca O’Brien on Wednesday. He spoke passionately about human rights, peace and raising your voice for the voiceless. Of course he had to be arrested.

My @criterion.bsky.social essay on 'Cairo Station,' in which I explore Chahine's aesthetics and politics, the aborted promises of the 1952 revolution, and a city that has become a shadow of its former self. A big thank you to my wonderful editor Liz Helfgott. www.criterion.com/current/post...

Gaza, Lebanon, and a controversial Tunisian auteur dominate at the Locarno film festival - https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/gaza-lebanon-and-controversial-tunisian-auteur-dominate-locarno-film-festival

On the 2025 Locarno film fest, Kamal Aljafari's remarkable new feature - the standout Middle Eastern pic of the fest - and Giona Nazzaro's groundbreaking speech on Palestine. With mini-reviews of all Middle Eastern films. For @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social www.middleeasteye.net/discover/gaz...