Where to watch Arab cinema for free during quarantine

AFLAMUNA (AFLAMUNA.ONLINE): ‘Aflamuna’ — which means “our films” — was launched during these difficult times to bring audiences contemporary Arab cinema for free for a limited time, with a new issue released every 15 days. The following films will be available until April 8, with new films introduced thereafter.

Coming Forth by Day (2002): Two women take care of their sick man.

Martyr (2017): A young man dies tragically at Beirut’s seaside and his friends grapple with grief.

The One Man Village (2008): Semaan leads a quiet life in the Lebanese mountains in a village emptied in the civil war. Years later, inhabitants, all from one family, go back to the village and always leave before sunset.

Before I Forget (2018): A sci-fi story set in a coastal region where a scientist attempts to congregate the members of a secret society of amphibians to save the world.

Face A/Face B (2002): Two brothers write a song and send it to their brother living in the USSR.

Twenty Eight Nights And a Poem (2015): A filmmaker travels to an old photographic studio in Saida, Lebanon, where he recounts the work of a photographer and how it connects to the city.

Cleaning Schaerbeek (2017): In Brussels, during high terror alerts, a woman notices unusual happenings outside her window and alerts the authorities.

One of These Days in Beirut (2017) [Showing until April 15]: Lebanon’s youth, hungry for life, face another day of war in Beirut.

REEL PALESTINE: HOME EDITION: Reel Palestine was founded in 2014 as a film festival, which remains core to their mission. “But during these times our imperative has been to ensure people can continue to experience the variety of stories and depth of characters in the Palestinian narrative,” co-founder Nadia Rouchdy told Gulf News about ‘Home Edition’, which currently features the below paid and free content.

Trip Along Exodus (2014): A historical documentary exploring 7p years of Palestinian politics through the life of Dr Elias Shoufani, a leftist intellectual and leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

Nightmare of Gaza (2018): A haunting 13-minute film following one woman’s journey after bombings in Gaza.

Oceans of Injustice (2017): A gross injustice has been perpetuated against a people, but how much of their suffering can we understand through the news media?

Epicly Palestine’d (2015): A documentary tracking a small group of teenagers who created a skateboarding scene from scratch while living under military occupation.

Today They Took My Son (2106): A mother copes with her son being stripped from her; based on more than 7000 real-life stories of kidnapped and incarcerated Palestinian children.

Until When (2004): A look at Palestinian families in the Dheisheh Refugee camp near Bethlehem during the intifada.

A Few Crumbs for the Birds (2005): Set at Ruwayshed, a no man’s land and the last Jordanian village before the Iraq border.

Budrus (2009): Palestinian community organiser Ayed Morrar unites Fatah, Hamas and Israeli supports in an unarmed movement to save his village from destruction.

My Neighborhood (2012): Palestinian teen Mohammad El Kurd’s family is forced to give up part of their home to Israeli settlers, but local residents begin to peacefully protest and are joined by Israeli supporters.

Haneen (2010): Haneen, an older woman, struggles between monotony and a passion to rediscover life.

Speed Sisters (2015): Members of the Middle East’s first all-women racing team speed between the cities of the West Bank.

SHARJAH ART FOUNDATION (SAF): SAF is a contemporary art and culture foundation based in Sharjah.

The Landing (2019) By Akram Zaatari: Sharif Sehnaoui, Abed Kobeissy and Ali Hout are stuck in the desert in this artistic film, which screened in Berlin. Showing at 8.30pm on April 17; this is not an on-demand title.

IDFA — DOCUMENTARIES AROUND THE GLOBE: The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) has a large catalogue of paid and free films online. Below are free Arab documentaries streaming right now available in this region.

Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football (2011): It’s Ramadan and the football team at Fordson High School, where 95 per cent of the students are of Arab origin, is gearing up to take on their biggest rivals, Dearborn High.

Offside (2006): The Israeli fence runs straight through the Omar family’s backyard and keeps 13-year-old Ishaq from playing soccer on the village square with friends.

Susya (2011): A Palestinian father and son visit their former home, which is now a Jewish archaeological site.

SHAHID VIP — ONE MONTH FREE: Shahid, MBC’s subscription video-on-demand service, is offering all new users a complimentary one-month Shahid VIP subscription, for audiences who must stay put at home. Here’s some titles new to Shahid this month.

Al Theeb Fi Qleeb (The Wolf in the Heart): Saudi comedy actor Nasser Al Qasabi’s returns to theatre after three decades in this play, which follows an accountant accused of embezzlement and fighting to prove his innocence.

Born a King (2019): This historical drama tells the real-life story of young Saudi prince Faisal’s voyage to England at the age of 13.

Fe Kol Esboa Youm Gomaa (Every Week Has a Friday): Starring Menna Shalaby and Asser Yassin, this Shahid Original series follows Leila and Emad, who suffers from mental disorders, who live in a house where gruesome crimes take place every Friday.

Ahd El Dam (Blood Oath): Bassel Khayat leads the cast of this Shahid Original, where a man mistakenly murders the daughter of a notorious drug dealer and must protect his loved ones in the aftermath.

Domoa Farah (Tears of Joy): A Khaleeji social drama follows what happens when a holiday turns into a nightmare for a Kuwaiti family, after they lose their daughter in one of Georgia’s most dangerous forests.