Ramzi Salti's Arabology

The Arab Film Festival came to Stanford University for the first time on November 2, 2013 and screened two new amazing films that have received much critical acclaim this year: When Monaliza Smiled (Directed by Fadi Haddad) at 6 PM and Mars at Sunrise (Directed by Jessica Habie who was in attendance and participated in a discussion afterwards) at 8 PM. The films screened at Annenberg Auditorium (Cummings Art Building) and were free of charge. The event was sponsored by the Department of Comparative Literature and the Stanford Language Center, Stanford University.  With special thanks to Professor Alexander Key for making this event possible. Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti welcomes The Arab Film Festival to Stanford (http://youtu.be/BhebiE6Yq-4) Pictures from the event: Dr. Ramzi Salti's opening remarks Q & A session with Director Jessica Habie DATE :  Saturday November 2, 2013 at 6 pm and 8 pm LOCATION : Annenberg Auditorium, Crothers

Podcast at  https://soundcloud.com/arabology/arabology-s6-episode-4 The Oct 24, 2013 episode of 'Arabology' includes a live interview with Lebanese American soul singer Naima Grace Shalhoub who discusses her hit 'Herstory of Soul' and sings, live, her amazing version of the Arabic classic 'Adduka Al-Mayyas.' (video at youtu.be/ZAiDaoQ1arA ). Show also features music by Mashrou' Leila, Rima Khcheich, NO Blues, Dalida (Remix), Yolla Khalife and humorous tracks by Michelle Keserwany and Rania Kurdi.   also includes ticket giveaway to the Aswat tribute concert to Abdul Halim Hafez at San Mateo City College on Dec 7, 2013. Show also features music by Mashrou' Leila, Rima Khcheich, NO Blues, Dalida (Remix), Yolla Khalife and humorous tracks by Michelle Keserwany and Rania Kurdi.   also includes ticket giveaway to the Aswat tribute concert to Abdul Halim Hafez at San Mateo City College on Dec 7, 2013. Naima Shalhoub singing 'Qadduka Al-Mayya

Watching Yasmine Hamdan in the recording studio is an amazing experience.  Only here can you actually see and hear some of what she experiences while recording.  Paradoxically aloof yet emotionally devastated, Yasmine's technique, gestures, and voice acrobatics are that of true artist.  This may be a long way from her debut with the forever-hip, groundbreaking Lebanese duo 'Soapkills' but it is a phenomenal way to showcase Yamsine Hamdan's solo career as well as her latest album ' Ya Nass .' Yasmine Hamdan Sings 'Beyrouth' http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15ty7b_en-studio-avec-yasmine-hamdan-1-2-beyrouth_music En studio avec Yasmine Hamdan 1/2 : Beyrouth by telerama Yasmine Hamdan Sings 'Shouei' http://youtu.be/Motkt9k77bQ Yasmine Hamdan Sings 'Nedya' (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15tyln_en-studio-avec-yasmine-hamdan-2-2-nediya_music) En studio avec Yasmine Hamdan 2/2 : Nediya by telerama

THE MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES FORUM at Stanford presents Summer of 2013: A Focus on Egypt and Turkey. Amr Adly (Stanford University), “Egypt after June 30th: Between Abortive and Potential Fascism” Ayça Alemdaroğlu (Stanford University), “Youth and Politics in Turkey” Alexander Key (Stanford), “Should It Matter What We Call It? Islamic, Democratic, and Spring Politics” Kabir Tambar (Stanford University), “Popular Protest and the Politics of the Present in Turkey” Monday, October 21, 2013, 6:30 – 8:00 pm at Encina Hall, Bechtel Conference Center . It is free and open to the public. [Co-sponsored by the Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, the CDDRL Program on Arab Reform and Democracy, and the Stanford Humanities Center Workshop on Ethnic Minorities, Religious Communities, Rights and Democracy in the Modern Middle East and Central Asia]

With Moumen Smihi (top pic) and Peter Limbrick, Stanford 2013 Click on the arrow below to hear my interview with Moroccan Filmmaker Moumen Smihi and Professor Peter Limbrick, Associate Professor, Film and Digital Media, UCSC.  The interview was conducted on October 17, 2013 at Stanford University. Moumen Smihi is a critically celebrated Moroccan filmmaker whose career spans more than four decades, during which he has written, produced and directed award-winning and influential feature films, short films and documentaries. He is often credited for creating  "new Arab cinema."   His production company, IMAGO Film International, founded in 1979, has produced some twenty films and edited books on film theory. Peter Limbrick is Associate Professor of Film and Digital Media. He is the author of Making Settler Cinemas: Film and Colonial Encounters in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand(Palgrave 2010) and of articles in Third Text, Screening the Past, Camera

October 25 – 26, 2013, Digital Arts Research Center (DARC), UC Santa Cruz For more information see: http://unfixed.ucsc.edu A two-day symposium of scholars and artists at UCSC's DARC, and an exhibition of visual art at UCSC's Sesnon Gallery This symposium on Arab film and visual culture emphasizes its plurality, the complex itineraries by which it is produced, and the multiple trajectories through which it can be experienced. Artists and scholars will visit from Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Europe and the US. Work presented will cover a wide area of forms, styles and thematic concerns. Featuring participation and work by: Livia Alexander • Michael Allan • Ahmed Bouanani • Dore Bowen • Ali Cherri • Kay Dickinson • Tarek El-Ariss • Nouri Gana • John Greyson • Lamia Joreige • Hassan Khan • Marie El Khazen • Sunaina Maira • Nabil Maleh • Susette Min • Stefania Pandolfo • Larissa Sansour • Zineb Sedira • Jeffrey Skoller With special guest: Moumen Smihi Symposium screening

The 2nd episode of the 6th season of Arabology (aired Oct 10, 2013) includes music by Massar Egbari, Ziad Sahab & Yasmina Fayed, NO Blues, Salam, Mashrou' Leila, Breaking the Boundaries and Abdulrahman Mohammed, Yolla Khalife, Tania Saleh, Adel Salameh, May Nasr, Jadal. Episode also includes interview with Serge Bakalian, Executive Director of the Arab Film Festival and Director Jessica Habie whose film 'Mars at Sunrise' will screen at the Arab Film Festival in San Francisco on Oct 12, 2013. Playlist at zookeeper.stanford.edu/index.php?act…laylist=26694 Serge Bakalian and Director Jessica Habie at KZSU 90.1 FM