Cinema

• Baran (2001): Directed by Majid Majidi. A young Iranian construction worker falls in love with an Afghan refugee whose secret identity transforms his understanding of compassion and sacrifice.
• Osama (2003): Directed by Siddiq Barmak. The first feature film produced in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban follows a young girl forced to disguise herself as a boy in order to support her family.

The Battle of Algiers (1966): Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. This landmark political drama chronicles the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial rule through the lens of urban guerrilla warfare

• The Square (2013): Directed by Jehane Noujaim. An Academy Award-nominated documentary following Egyptian activists during the 2011 revolution and its turbulent aftermath.
• Um Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt (1996): Directed by Michal Goldman. A documentary exploring the life, music, and enduring cultural influence of the legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum.

Documentaries

• America Held Hostage (1980): An ABC News documentary covering the Iran hostage crisis and the 444-day captivity of U.S. embassy personnel in Tehran.
• The Glass House (2008): Directed by Hamid Rahmanian. A documentary examining the lives of women and children living in a rehabilitation center in Tehran.
• Our Summer in Tehran (2009): A documentary offering a glimpse of everyday family life in post-revolutionary Iran through the experiences of an Iranian American family.
• Persepolis Recreated: A short documentary examining the artistic process and production behind the animated film Persepolis.
• Persian Carpet (2006): Directed by Bahman Kiarostami. Iranian filmmakers reflect on the history, artistry, and cultural significance of the Persian carpet.

Narrative

• Children of Heaven (1997): Directed by Majid Majidi. A brother and sister secretly share a single pair of shoes after one is lost, revealing the resilience of family amid hardship.
• No One Knows About Persian Cats (2009): Directed by Bahman Ghobadi. Two young musicians navigate Tehran’s underground music scene while searching for a way to perform freely outside Iran.
• Persepolis (2007): Directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud. An animated adaptation of Satrapi’s graphic memoir chronicling her coming of age during the Iranian Revolution.
• The Circle (2000): Directed by Jafar Panahi. An interconnected series of stories exposes the legal and social restrictions faced by women in contemporary Iran.
• The Color of Paradise (1999): Directed by Majid Majidi. A blind boy’s extraordinary sensitivity to the natural world challenges his father’s shame and expectations.
• The Salesman (2016): Directed by Asghar Farhadi. After a violent incident in their new apartment, a married couple’s relationship is tested by grief, revenge, and moral uncertainty.
• The White Balloon (1995): Directed by Jafar Panahi. A determined young girl embarks on a simple but eventful quest to buy a goldfish for the Persian New Year.

Documentaries

• The Boys from Baghdad High (2007): Directed by Laura Winter. A documentary following four Iraqi teenagers as they navigate daily life, friendships, and education amid the violence of the Iraq War.
• Iraq in Fragments (2006): Directed by James Longley. An Academy Award–nominated documentary presenting a visually striking portrait of post-invasion Iraq through the lives of ordinary Iraqis in Kurdish, Shi’a, and Sunni communities.
• Salaam Dunk (2011): Directed by David Fine. A documentary chronicling the first women’s basketball team at the American University of Iraq as its players challenge gender expectations and pursue higher education.

Narrative

• Santa Claus in Baghdad (2014): Directed by Maysaloun Pachachi. A heartwarming drama about an elderly Christian man who dresses as Santa Claus to bring hope and joy to children in war-torn Baghdad.
• Turtles Can Fly (2004): Directed by Bahman Ghobadi. Set on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, this powerful drama follows Kurdish refugee children struggling to survive near the Iraqi-Turkish border.

Documentaries

• 5 Broken Cameras (2011): Directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi. An Oscar-nominated documentary chronicling a Palestinian farmer’s firsthand account of nonviolent resistance in the West Bank through footage captured over several years.
• Al-Nakba (2008) : Directed by Benny Brunner. A historical documentary examining the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War through archival footage and firsthand testimony.
• Encounter Point (2006): Directed by Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha. Israelis and Palestinians who have lost loved ones to the conflict work together to promote dialogue, reconciliation, and nonviolent solutions.
• Jerusalem (2013): A documentary narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch examining the history and religious significance of Jerusalem for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• No Other Land (2024): Directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor. An Academy Award-winning documentary documenting the destruction of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta and the joint activism of Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers.
• Promises (2001): Directed by Justine Shapiro, B. Z. Goldberg, and Carlos Bolado. A documentary following the lives of Israeli and Palestinian children, revealing both the divisions and shared humanity shaped by the conflict.
• The Iron Wall (2006): Directed by Mohammed Alatar. A documentary examining Israel’s separation barrier and its impact on Palestinian communities, mobility, and prospects for peace.
• The Voice of Hind Rajab (2025): A documentary examining the death of six-year-old Hind Rajab in Gaza and the international response, drawing on eyewitness accounts, recordings, and investigative reporting.
• The Wanted 18 (2014): Directed by Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan. Combining animation and documentary, the film tells the true story of Palestinian villagers who secretly raised dairy cows as an act of economic resistance during the First Intifada.

Narrative

• A Bottle in the Gaza Sea (2011): Directed by Thierry Binisti. A French Israeli teenager and a Palestinian youth begin an unlikely correspondence after a message in a bottle crosses the divide between them.
• All That’s Left of You (2025): Directed by Cherien Dabis. A multigenerational family drama tracing Palestinian experiences of displacement, resilience, and identity across decades of conflict.
• Divine Intervention (2002): Directed by Elia Suleiman. A darkly comic portrait of everyday Palestinian life under occupation, blending surreal humor with political satire.
• Gaza Mon Amour (2020): Directed by Arab and Tarzan Nasser. A gentle romantic drama about an aging fisherman whose unexpected love story unfolds against the backdrop of life in Gaza.
• Laila’s Birthday (2008): Directed by Rashid Masharawi. A former Palestinian judge spends a frustrating day working as a taxi driver in Ramallah while trying to organize a birthday celebration for his daughter.
• Lemon Tree (2008): Directed by Eran Riklis. A Palestinian widow fights to save her lemon grove after Israeli authorities order it destroyed for security reasons.
• Mediterranean Fever (2022): Directed by Maha Haj. A dark comedy-drama about an aspiring writer and his enigmatic neighbor whose friendship explores depression, masculinity, and contemporary Palestinian life.
• The Band’s Visit (2007): Directed by Eran Kolirin. After an Egyptian police orchestra mistakenly arrives in a remote Israeli town, unexpected friendships emerge across cultural and political divides.
• The Present (2020): Directed by Farah Nabulsi. An Oscar-nominated short film following a Palestinian father and daughter whose simple shopping trip is complicated by military checkpoints and occupation.
• The West Bank Story (2005): Directed by Ari Sandel. This Academy Award-winning short musical comedy humorously reimagines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the rivalry of neighboring falafel stands.

Captain Abu Raed (2007): Directed by Amin Matalqa. Mistaken for an airline pilot, an elderly airport janitor becomes a source of inspiration for neighborhood children dreaming of a better future.

The Insult (2017): Directed by Ziad Doueiri. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, this gripping drama takes place in a modern Beirut mechanic shop, addressing deeply personal and political fault lines in the aftermath of the civil war.

Lebanon (2009): Directed by Samuel Maoz, this award-winning war drama offers a potent, claustrophobic look at the 1982 Lebanon War strictly through the lens of young soldiers trapped inside a tank.

Shankaboot (2010): Directed by Amin Dora. The Arab world’s first web drama follows a Beirut motorcycle delivery driver whose daily routes reveal the city’s diverse social, political, and economic realities.

Waltz with Bashir (2008): A groundbreaking animated documentary by Ari Folman that traces an Israeli veteran’s memories of the 1982 Lebanon War and the Sabra and Shatila massacre.

West Beirut (1998): A coming-of-age story directed by Ziad Doueiri, exploring the absurdities and realities of the Lebanese Civil War from the perspective of teenagers exploring a divided Beirut. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets (2000): Directed by Nabil Ayouch. This powerful and heartbreaking film follows a group of street children in Casablanca navigating poverty, gang life, and their dreams of becoming sailors.
• Casanegra (2008): Directed by Nour Eddine Lakhmari. The film follows two childhood friends dealing with crime, class struggles, and the desperation of youth.
• Horses of God (2012): Directed by Nabil Ayouch. Based on the tragic 2003 Casablanca bombings, this emotionally charged film tracks the lives of two brothers growing up in the Sidi Moumen slum and how they are radicalized.
• The Blue Caftan (2022): Directed by Maryam Touzani. An intimate, beautifully shot Marrakech-set drama about a traditional master tailor, his wife, and the young apprentice they hire, which explores themes of love, acceptance, and tradition.

• 7 Dogs (2025): Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. An action thriller set in Saudi Arabia that follows an elite team confronting a dangerous criminal organization in one of the country’s largest film productions to date.
• Wadjda (2012): Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. Saudi Arabia’s first feature film directed by a woman follows a determined young girl who dreams of owning a bicycle despite social expectations.

Documentaries

• Return to Homs (2013): Directed by Talal Derki. An award-winning documentary following two young Syrians whose lives are transformed by the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.

Narrative

• Holy Spider (2022): Directed by Ali Abbasi. Inspired by true events, this crime thriller follows a journalist investigating the murders of women by a serial killer in Mashhad, Iran, while exploring misogyny and religious extremism.

Documentaries

• Four Daughters (2023): Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania. An Oscar-nominated hybrid documentary in which a Tunisian mother and her daughters reconstruct family history through interviews and dramatized reenactments.

Narrative

• Silence of the Palace (1994): Directed by Moufida Tlatli. A landmark Tunisian film in which a young singer reflects on her childhood in a royal palace and the lives of the women who served there.

Documentaries

• Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul (2005) Directed by Fatih Akın. A documentary that explores Istanbul through its music, featuring performances by artists representing traditional, folk, Kurdish, Armenian, Roma, rock, rap, and electronic genres.
• Hagia Sophia: Architecture That Defied Time: Explores the architectural history and religious significance of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia from the Byzantine Empire to the present.
• Atatürk: Founder Of Turkey, Revolutionary Statesmen, And Military Genius: Examines the life of the founder of the Republic of Turkey and his sweeping political and social reforms.
• Süleyman the Magnificent: Explores the reign of the Ottoman Empire’s longest-serving sultan and the empire’s cultural and political influence.
• Topkapı Palace: Examines the history, architecture, and treasures of the Ottoman sultans’ palace in Istanbul.

Narrative

• Distant (Uzak) (2002): Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceyla. Widely regarded as one of Turkey’s modern cinematic masterpieces, the film offers a quiet meditation on alienation in contemporary Turkish society.
• Head-On (2004): Directed by Fatih Akın. Set between Germany and Turkey, the film explores immigration, identity, generational conflict, and the tensions between tradition and personal freedom.
• Mustang (2015): Directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven. A powerful exploration of gender, family, and social expectations in contemporary Turkey.
• Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011): Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. A murder investigation becomes a philosophical reflection on justice, memory, truth, and the moral complexities of life in rural Turkey.
• Winter Sleep (2014): Directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
  Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the film examines class inequality, power, religion, and moral responsibility through intimate conversations set against Turkey’s striking central Anatolian landscape.

Narrative

• Amreeka (2009): Directed by Cherien Dabis. A Palestinian single mother and her son immigrate to the United States, where they navigate family, identity, and prejudice in the aftermath of the Iraq War.
• Le Grand Voyage (2004): Directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi. A young French Moroccan reluctantly drives his devout Muslim father from France to Mecca for the hajj, leading to a journey of reconciliation and self-discovery.
• The Message (1976): Directed by Moustapha Akkad. An epic historical drama depicting the origins of Islam and the life of the Prophet Muhammad through the perspectives of his companions, without portraying the Prophet on screen.

Educational & Historical Media

• The Arabs – A Living History, 1979-1983: A series of ten one-hour documentaries which explores Arab history, culture and society from within through the lives and opinions of Arabs today.
• Crusades: A historical documentary examining the medieval Crusades and their lasting impact on relations between Europe and the Middle East.
• Hidden Art of Islam (2012): A documentary highlighting the mathematical principles and artistic innovations behind Islamic geometric design.
• Inside Islam (2003): A BBC documentary introducing the beliefs, practices, and diversity of Islam through the experiences of Muslims around the world.
• Inside Mecca (2003): A National Geographic documentary following Muslims from different countries as they undertake the pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Islam: Empire of Faith (2000): A PBS documentary series tracing the history of Islamic civilization from the seventh century through its cultural and scientific achievements.
• Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World (2011): Directed by Rob Gardner. A documentary exploring the beauty, history, and spiritual traditions reflected in Islamic art and architecture.
• Lawrence of Arabia: The Battle for the Arab World (2021): A PBS documentary reassessing T. E. Lawrence, the Arab Revolt, and the political legacy of World War I in the Middle East.
• Muhammad: Legacy of the Prophet (2002): Directed by Michael Schwarz and Omar al-Qattan. A PBS documentary exploring the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his enduring influence on Muslims today.
• Muslim Youth Voices: A PBS documentary that presents stories that convey the richness and diversity of Muslim American youth.
• Muslims (2002): A PBS documentary series examining the diversity of Muslim societies across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
• Purple Sea (2020): Directed by Amel Alzakout and Khaled Abdulwahed. Using footage captured during a refugee boat disaster in the Mediterranean, the film offers an intimate account of survival, displacement, and migration.
• Reel Bad Arabs (2006): Directed by Sut Jhally. Based on the work of Jack Shaheen, this documentary examines Hollywood’s long history of stereotyping Arabs and Muslims.
• Secrets of Lost Empires: A PBS documentary series using archaeology and engineering to reconstruct monumental structures from the ancient world, including sites in the Middle East.
• The Silk Road: A documentary exploring the trade networks that connected the Middle East with Asia, Africa, and Europe through commerce and cultural exchange.
• Three Faiths, One God: Judaism, Christianity, Islam (2005): A documentary examining the shared origins and traditions of the Abrahamic religions.
• Traditional World of Islam (1976): A documentary series exploring Islamic civilization, religious traditions, architecture, and everyday life across the Muslim world.
• When the World Spoke Arabic (2005): A documentary highlighting the scientific, philosophical, and cultural achievements of the medieval Islamic world.