Art and entertainment

As Palestinian residents of Silwan face evictions, large public artwork protests

Over 150 murals in the Batan al-Hawa neighborhood of East Jerusalem form part of a political art project organized by Jews and Palestinians.

Rebecca Anne Proctor | Palestine | Jul 30, 2021

Murals can be seen in Silwan, East Jerusalem. The murals were painted by Palestinian children of Silwan, supported and guided by the American artist Susan Green, on Nov. 1, 2019.

Actress' decision to quit stage draws fierce backlash from liberals

An Egyptian actress' decision to quit acting and don the hijab has stirred controversy in Egypt, highlighting the widening rift between ultraconservatives and liberals in society.

Shahira Amin | Egypt | Jul 24, 2021

Egyptian actresses Hala Shiha (L) and Mana Shalabi pose during the premiere screening of their new film "Uridu Kholaa" at a film theater, Cairo, Egypt, Nov. 2, 2005.

Short Palestinian film on Sheikh Jarrah goes viral

Young Palestinian director Omar Rammal is still reaping positive reactions to his short film, "The Place," which he produced and posted on social media during recent events in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem.

Aziza Nofal | Palestine | Jun 22, 2021

Ramadan series revives debate on verbal divorce, marital rape in Egypt

One of the most watched Ramadan series renews the debate on verbal divorce and marital rape in Egypt.

A correspondent in Egypt | Culture | May 23, 2021

International TV series to depict saga of Egypt’s notorious serial killer duo

The series "The Alexandria Killings" is based on the true events of a killing spree that has kept the Egyptian public guessing between innocence and guilt ever since the British colonial rule.

Marwa Al-A’sar | Culture | May 9, 2021

A railway station (now demolished) in Alexandria, Egypt, circa 1920. The station was the first to be built in Egypt.

Tunisian film nominated for country's first Oscar

"The Man Who Sold His Skin" was nominated for best foreign film at the Academy Awards, the first-ever nomination for Tunisia.

Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Apr 26, 2021

Syrian actor Yahya Mahayni poses with Tunisian director and screenwriter Kaouther Ben Henia in front of the poster of the Tunisian film "The man who sold his skin" during its first screening in the Tunisian capital Tunis, on March 30, 2021.

Studio Photo Kegham: disrupted archive of Gaza

The grandson of Kegham Djeghalian, a survivor of the 1915 Armenian genocide and founder of the first photography studio in Gaza, recently organized an exhibition with the negatives he found three years ago.

A correspondent in Egypt | Culture | Apr 17, 2021

Riyadh lights up with citywide art festival

Saudi Arabia's first annual Noor Riyadh art festival has brightened Riyadh with light-based installations across the city.

Rebecca Anne Proctor | Gulf Pulse | Mar 27, 2021

A light installation spelling out "Riyadh" is seen in this undated image from the Noor Riyadh festival.

Egypt's satirical puppet Abla Fahita makes comeback on Netflix's 'Drama Queen'

Netflix has started airing a second Egyptian original series about Abla Fahita as the US streaming giant seeks to expand its viewership in the Arab world.

A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Mar 24, 2021

A screen grab from the Netflix trailer for Drama Queen.

Inside Alexandria's bunker-turned-art space

In the basement of an old building in Alexandria lies an art space that once served as a bomb shelter.

Hani Sameer | Egypt | Feb 11, 2021

Islamic scholars, activists call for ban on British film about prophet’s daughter

The film about Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, has already been banned in Pakistan.

Amr Mostafa | Egypt | Jan 8, 2021

Egypt approves Pharaonic exhibition in 5 US, European cities

Despite the outbreak of the coronavirus around the world, Egypt is trying to revive the tourism sector by planning to take remarkable archaeological pieces on a tour around five prominent cities in Europe and the United States.

Nada Shaker | Egypt | Jan 7, 2021

This picture taken on April 13, 2020 shows a view of the golden sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun (reigned between 1342-1325 BC) as it lies for restoration at the restoration lab of the newly-built Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Art perseveres in Istanbul despite coronavirus

The city’s traditional fall art season is underway as curators take new approaches to exhibit work safely and sustainably during the coronavirus pandemic, despite confusing government restrictions about what would be allowed to go ahead.

Ayla Jean Yackley | Turkey | Nov 13, 2020

People stand on the "Meeting Point", a temporary designed mobile public forum and exhibition center on Febuary 18, 2020 near Gezi Park in Istanbul. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo by YASIN AKGUL/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt holds its first Islamic exhibition in Saudi Arabia

Egypt is trying to attract Saudi tourists by holding an exhibition of Egyptian Islamic antiquities in Saudi Arabia, which includes 84 artifacts from the collections of Islamic art in Cairo.

George Mikhail | Saudi Arabia | Nov 11, 2020

People visit Cairo's Museum of Islamic Art after it reopened to the public on January 19, 2017, in the egyptian capital.
The Egyptian president reopened the museum on January 18, three years after a car bombing partially destroyed the building. / AFP / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP via Getty Images)

Netflix airs its first Egyptian original series

The US streaming giant Netflix has started airing "Paranormal," the first original Egyptian Arabic-language series, as part of its efforts to boost its activity in the Middle East and draw a larger audience.

A correspondent in Egypt | Originals | Nov 10, 2020

Art and entertainment

As Palestinian residents of Silwan face evictions, large public artwork protests

Over 150 murals in the Batan al-Hawa neighborhood of East Jerusalem form part of a political art project organized by Jews and Palestinians.

Actress' decision to quit stage draws fierce backlash from liberals

Short Palestinian film on Sheikh Jarrah goes viral

Ramadan series revives debate on verbal divorce, marital rape in Egypt

International TV series to depict saga of Egypt’s notorious serial killer duo

Tunisian film nominated for country's first Oscar

Studio Photo Kegham: disrupted archive of Gaza

Riyadh lights up with citywide art festival

Egypt's satirical puppet Abla Fahita makes comeback on Netflix's 'Drama Queen'

Inside Alexandria's bunker-turned-art space

Islamic scholars, activists call for ban on British film about prophet’s daughter

Egypt approves Pharaonic exhibition in 5 US, European cities

Art perseveres in Istanbul despite coronavirus

Egypt holds its first Islamic exhibition in Saudi Arabia

Netflix airs its first Egyptian original series

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