April 10, 2020

#MiznaAtHome: SWANA Cinema Watchlist

by Nailah Taman | in Film

Past Arab Film Fest curators recommend Arab/SWANA cinema available on streaming platforms for your quarantine viewing pleasure. Check out the rest of #MiznaAtHome programming here and a curated resource list for keeping up with SWANA culture here.

Rami Azzazi, Arab Film Fest Curator 2014

• The Time That Remains: A dark comedy by Elia Suleiman tells the multi-generational story of the creation of the state of Israel.
• This Way Up: A humorous account of a nursing home built in the shadows of an Israeli security wall. Featured in Mizna’s seventh Arab Film Fest.

• Taqwacore: One of the most intriguing documentaries we have presented, and one that approaches Islam from a decidedly current and anti-systemic perspective.
• Garbage Dreams: A fascinating documentary about the Zabbaleen on the outskirts of Cairo.

Michelle Baroody, Arab Film Fest Curator 2015–2018, 2020

• For those much-needed laughs at the absurdity of life: Divine Intervention by Elia Suleiman and The Wanted 18 by Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan.
• A well-crafted and uplifting lunch-hour-length short by Faiza Ambah streaming for free on Kanopy or for rent on iTunes. 
• And if you just need two hours to plunge into despair in a way that leaves some room for revolution, watch The Dupes by Tawfik Saleh

Kitty Aal, Arab Film Fest Curator 2019

• In the Battlefields: A coming-of-age drama that takes place during the Lebanese Civil War.
• Wajd—Songs of Separation: A favorite from last year’s fest. Though the stories are full of anguish, there is much beauty present and watching it can be cathartic.

• This music video/short film by The Blaze always makes me happy to be alive: Virile, and another by the same duo, Territory
• Bohemian Rhapsody: Some might question the relevance of Bohemian Rhapsody in this list, but how many won’t be affected by the magnificent performance of Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury? Answer: 0

OTHER FILM RESOURCES

• Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art is offering a complimentary selection of films for streaming, rotated on a weekly basis.
• aflamuna (our films) is an initiative launched by a group of arab filmmakers and film institutions, lead by Beirut DC. During these hard times they will be bringing you some free contemporary Arab cinema. A new film will be released at least every 15 days.
• Reel Palestine has collected a list of digitally accessible Palestinian films as part of their mission is to present the best in independent Palestinian cinema.