Documentary Filmmaking in the Middle East and North Africa

This book explores the long history of Arab nonfiction filmmaking in the Middle East and North Africa, from the early twentieth century to the present, examining the diverse socio-political, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural contexts in which the films emerged. It brings together a distinguished group of film scholars, practitioners, and critics to provide insights into theoretical and historical issues such as structural development, state intervention, formats and aesthetics, new media, politics of representation, auteurs, subjectivity, minority filmmaking, 'Artivism, and revolution.

Format: Hardback
Length: 440 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2022
Publisher: The American University in Cairo Press

While numerous Arab documentary films that surfaced after the digital turn in the 1990s have garnered significant scholarly and media attention, the vast array of Arab documentaries produced during the celluloid era remains relatively less explored. These films encompassed a wide spectrum, ranging from newsreels and informative pieces to propaganda and educational films, travelogues, and more experimental and artistic formats, such as direct cinema and film essays. This book aims to delve into the extensive history of Arab nonfiction filmmaking in the Middle East and North Africa, spanning from the early twentieth century to the present. By bringing together a distinguished group of film scholars, practitioners, and critics, Documentary Filmmaking in the Middle East and North Africa explores the historical evolution of documentary filmmaking while considering the diverse socio-political, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural contexts in which these films emerged. The contributions offer insightful perspectives on a wide range of relevant issues, both theoretical and historical, including structural development and state intervention, formats and aesthetics, new media, politics of representation, auteurs, subjectivity, minority filmmaking, "Artivism," and revolution. Furthermore, this rich and theoretically informed collection uncovers previously undiscovered scholarly work in the field, shedding light on a previously neglected aspect of international film history.

Dimension: 230 x 150 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789774169588