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Saudi Arabia has decided to allow movie theaters to open for the first time in 35 years, the NYT reports. The movies screened are still to subject to the censorship laws of the country's Culture and Information Ministry. Long seen as a source of depravity, movie theaters were instead replaced by satellite TV and on-demand viewing. The decision to open up theaters is part of the country's effort to move away from economic dependence on oil. This should be very interesting for Saudi Arabia and Arab cinema in general which will now have an increased theater audience.

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Bella Hadid is an American-born model of half Dutch, half Palestinian descent. Hadid is known for becoming famous along with her sister Gigi through their parents’ appearances on reality TV. The Hadid sisters used their family's connections to become two of the biggest models of the “Instagram generation”. I honestly did not think much of Hadid until I saw her protest at a Free Palestine event in London earlier this week. Hadid is actually quite vocal about her Palestinian heritage and took to her Instagram to speak out against Israeli occupation. I think it's great that she is using her large platform to speak about Palestine and discuss her Arab heritage and family proudly.

Source: TMZ

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Egyptian director Marwan Hamed, best known for The Yacoubian Building (2006), has been attached to direct Diamond Dust, a political thriller set in present day Cairo. It is based on the bestselling 2010 novel of the same name by Ahmed Mourad. The screenplay has been updated to include the 2011 revolution and current political climate. Like Hamed's The Yaccoubian Building, Diamond Dust will feature a star ensemble cast and is slated for a 2018 release.

Source: Variety

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Ali Zaoua is a 2000 Moroccan film about a group of street children trying to bury their friend Ali after his death. They have no money or means to do so but are determined to give him a burial worthy of a prince. The film depicts the terrible conditions the children must endure to survive and how they are able to maintain even the smallest amount of hope and childlike joy. The film blends fantasy and reality, portraying a strict contrast between the magic of the children's imagination and the horror of their actual lives.

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90 Day Fiance is a reality show on TLC network. Couples on the show only have 90 days (the length of a visa) to decide if they will marry their foreign-born partners. One of the couples this season features a Moroccan named Azan who wants to marry the American Nicole. Nicole travels to Morocco in order to learn more about Azan's culture. The show portrays Azan and his family as down-to-earth, welcoming people and Nicole as an out-of-touch, culturally insensitive American. In this clip Azan goes to pick Nicole up at the airport.

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The Tunisian fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa has passed away at the age of 77. Known for his iconic form fitting dresses, Alaia studied in Tunis and Paris. He created some of the most iconic looks of the 80s and 90s and worked with the major supermodels and stars of the day. He was also known for working with women of color at a time when many designers did not. For many people growing up in the 90s, the designer will forever be immortalized by the quote from Clueless: “Um, this is an Alaïa!”

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The Mountain Between Us is a 2017 American film by Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad. It is the first Hollywood film by the director who was previously known for Paradise Now (2006) and Omar (2013). Kate Winslet and Idris Elba star as two plane crash survivors who must now survive the harsh mountains. The film reportedly involved intense on-location shooting and weather conditions but is definitely something new and different from Abu-Assad.

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Fatma Al Remaihi is the CEO of Doha Film Institute and has established a fund for Arab films, an international film festival for local children called Ajal Film Festival, and Qumra, a festival, workshop, and international production event for filmmakers. The Doha Film Institute is a government-funded entity established in Qatar to foster the country's film industry and provide funding for Arab filmmakers.  Al Remaihi is a native of Qatar and hopes to grow the local film industry and encourage Arab auteurs.

Source: Variety

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The musical score of Caramel (2007) is as rich and beautiful as the cinematography of the film. Composed by Khaled Mouzanar, the film's score enhances much of its emotion. This track Succar Ya Banat plays while Youssef the policeman spies on Layale from a cafe across the street. He imagines an entire conversation with her and what it would be like if they were actually together. It's one of the best scenes from Caramel.

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Amna Al Haddad is a 28 year old female weightlifter from the U.A.E. She was the first Emirati to compete in the Asia Regionals in 2011. In 2017 Al Haddad teamed up with Nike to create Nike Pro Hijab, their first line created for Muslim female athletes who wear hijab. Al Haddad hopes that the new line of more comfortable and breathable fabric will encourage women to feel more secure competing and training.

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Imaan Hammam is one of the top working models today. Born in Amsterdam to an Egyptian father and a Moroccan mother, Hammam is one of the few major Arab models in the industry. She has landed major fashion campaigns and magazine covers. In a 2017 interview with Allure magazine Hammam stated, ““I’m half Moroccan, half Egyptian, and I was born in Amsterdam. I’m Muslim, and I’m superproud of my heritage and of my roots. I want to be a role model for young girls who are struggling with racism or struggling with their looks or with their skin color. I had Naomi Campbell, who I looked up to as a black powerful woman. But there aren’t many Arabic models, and being an African-Arabic model, I’m trying to open doors for more Arabic girls.”

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Sheikh Jackson is a 2017 Egyptian drama directed by Amr Salama. It screened at TIFF this year. It was also selected as the Egyptian entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards. It tells the story of an Islamic cleric who loves Michael Jackson and what he does after the pop star's death. The trailer shows a mix of drama, comedy, and romance while referencing some of Michael Jackson's most iconic looks.

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Egyptian American actor Rami Malek will star as Freddie Mercury in the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. The Mr. Robot star has been taking voice lessons for his role as the iconic singer. Mercury was an incredible performer and presence on stage. Given the differences between Mercury and Malek in terms of height, weight, ethnicity, and singing ability, many are questioning the film. I guess we will have to wait for the first footage to be released.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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Disney's live action reboot of Aladdin is raising eyebrows with its casting. The title character will be portrayed by Egyptian-Canadian actor Mena Massoud and Jafar will be played by Tunisian-Dutch actor Marwan Kenzari, the only Arab actors attached to the project. Jasmine will be portrayed by half English, half Indian actress Naomi Scott while Will Smith will portray Genie. Disney has also decided to introduce a new white character named Prince Anders. Fans are left wondering why Disney could not cast more actors of Arab descent and why an additional white character was necessary for the film at all. Given the success of the Beauty and the Beast reboot, I'm sure Disney is not too worried this casting will impact Aladdin's 2019 release.

Source: Variety

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Hind Rostom was one of the most iconic Egyptian actresses and stars of the country's Golden Age. Known as the Marilyn Monroe of the East, Rostom made a name for herself portraying femme fatales and seductresses onscreen. She was also known for her bellydancing numbers. In this 1963 clip she does a “candlestick belly dance” without missing a beat!