Cinema
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Documentary: "Muezzin" by Sebastian Brameshuber
Turkey's "Idol" for prayer callers
The documentary "Muezzin" by Austrian film director Sebastian Brameshuber gives viewers an inside look at the world of Turkish prayer-callers. A review by Marian Brehmer
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Berlinale 2018: "What Walaa wants"
Against all the odds
Director Christy Garland's documentary, "What Walaa wants", which premiered at this year's Berlinale International Film Festival, tells the story of a young rebellious Palestinian woman who overcomes prejudice and adversity to pursue her wish to become a police officer with the Palestinian Authority. By Rene Wildangel
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German-Turkish film festival defies the odds
Sending a message
This year's Film Festival Turkey Germany has kicked off without any financial backing from Turkey. Ankara withdrew funding at the last minute from an event that it seems to perceive as far too critical. By Jochen Kurten
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Documentary: "A Silent Revolution"
Pioneering Saudi women
Thanks to the courage of a few, Saudi Arabian women are now managing companies and will soon be allowed to drive cars. The documentary "A Silent Revolution" showcases Saudi Arabia's female movers and shakers. Elizabeth Grenier talked to director Danya Alhamrani and producer Dania Nassief
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Berlinale 2018: Iranian film "Khook"
When heads roll
A film director desperate to be on a serial killerʹs hit list, AC/DC and Instagram likes: with his absurdist comedy, Mani Haghighi breaks with all the conventions associated with Iranian cinema. By Elizabeth Grenier
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Berlinale 2018: ″Central Airport THF″ by Karim Ainouz
Lives lived in waiting
″Central Airport THF″, the new documentary by Karim Ainouz intentionally turns the focus away from the image of refugees as victims. He is far more interested in how, under adverse circumstances, life endures in an atmosphere of waiting. By Rene Wildangel
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Film review: ″Sheikh Jackson″
Pop go the faithful
The death of Michael Jackson is the catalyst that leads a young imam in Cairo to question the meaning of his life in the Egyptian film "Sheikh Jackson". Schayan Riaz watched the film
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Ali Soozandeh's film "Tehran Taboo"
Nothing but taboos
German-Iranian director Ali Soozandeh says that he made the film "Tehran Taboo" in order to "break the silence". In doing so, however, he has sketched a portrait of Iran that is almost unbearable, especially for the critical viewer with a knowledge of Iran, says Massoud Schirazi
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Documentary series: "Paradises of the earth"
The time is now
Nadir Bouhmouch, director of the ground-breaking web documentary series ″Paradises of the earth″, talks about the inception of the project and the urgency of telling North African stories
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Fatih Akin's film "In the Fade"
Back in the saddle
In his latest film, "In the Fade", Fatih Akin puts his leading lady through hell. The acclaimed director draws on the series of murders committed by the NSU terror cell in Germany to produce some of his best work to date. By Jochen Kurten
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Egyptian film controversy
Shams buys a man
Egypt is in uproar over a film: a single woman marries solely in order to have a baby via a sperm donor and then gets divorced. A female television presenter who showcased the film and its controversial theme on her programme has been given a prison sentence. By Dunja Ramadan
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A new age dawns for Tunisian cinema
Press reboot!
With young Tunisian directors winning international awards, the decision to finally go ahead with a long-planned cinematheque, and a careful festival relaunch, the signs are all there: the winds of change are blowing in the Tunisian film sector. By Sarah Mersch in Tunis