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AL-BUSTAN NEWS

Covering Philadelphia’s Southwest Asian and North African Communities

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Cinema, Etcetera | My Six Hopes for Arab Cinema in 2026
Cinema, Etcetera | My Six Hopes for Arab Cinema in 2026

By Joseph Fahim

What Arab cinema needs now is not decorative Oscar recognition, but sustained community engagement and inventive, grassroots marketing strategies.

‘Palestine 36’ Reveals the Cruel Logic of Empire and the Limits of Endurance
‘Palestine 36’ Reveals the Cruel Logic of Empire and the Limits of Endurance

By Gawhara Abou-eid

“Palestine 36” poses a question that echoes long after the credits roll: Is endurance the only solution Palestinians are permitted?

Art as Resistance | Lara Bedewi Is Telling One Arab Story at a Time — and That’s the Point
Art as Resistance | Lara Bedewi Is Telling One Arab Story at a Time — and That’s the Point

By Lauren Abunassar

While Bedewi has often worried that her films will be misconstrued as representative of all Arab experience, she has increasingly felt permitted to tell ‘one’ Arab story, not ‘the’ Arab story.

Featured
Cinema, Etcetera | My Six Hopes for Arab Cinema in 2026
Cinema, Etcetera | My Six Hopes for Arab Cinema in 2026

By Joseph Fahim

What Arab cinema needs now is not decorative Oscar recognition, but sustained community engagement and inventive, grassroots marketing strategies.

‘Palestine 36’ Reveals the Cruel Logic of Empire and the Limits of Endurance
‘Palestine 36’ Reveals the Cruel Logic of Empire and the Limits of Endurance

By Gawhara Abou-eid

“Palestine 36” poses a question that echoes long after the credits roll: Is endurance the only solution Palestinians are permitted?

Art as Resistance | Lara Bedewi Is Telling One Arab Story at a Time — and That’s the Point
Art as Resistance | Lara Bedewi Is Telling One Arab Story at a Time — and That’s the Point

By Lauren Abunassar

While Bedewi has often worried that her films will be misconstrued as representative of all Arab experience, she has increasingly felt permitted to tell ‘one’ Arab story, not ‘the’ Arab story.

ARTS & CULTURE

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An Area Couple Celebrates their Engagement with Iraqi Traditions — and Some New Ones (Video)
An Area Couple Celebrates their Engagement with Iraqi Traditions — and Some New Ones (Video)

By Kenza Bousseloub

On December 19, Amani's and Lucio's families and friends came together for a one–of–a–kind North Philly engagement party. 

Za’atar and Olive Oil: Fishtown Native Serves Flavors from His Childhood at The Olive Branch Pizzeria
Za’atar and Olive Oil: Fishtown Native Serves Flavors from His Childhood at The Olive Branch Pizzeria

By Ben Bennett

“It’s just a Palestinian’s addiction. You just know [when] you go to your parents’ house, you’ll have a couple big jugs of homemade olive oil.”

‘We Take Care of Each Other’: The Treasured Cafés of South Philly’s North African Community (Video)
‘We Take Care of Each Other’: The Treasured Cafés of South Philly’s North African Community (Video)

By Kenza Bousseloub

At three cafés in South Philadelphia, North African men gather for coffee, company and Kabyle music.

COMMUNITY

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Explainer: The ‘Invisible Crisis’ in Sudan
Explainer: The ‘Invisible Crisis’ in Sudan

By Ben Bennett

The current conflict in Sudan, now in its third year, is being called “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.” But awareness about the crisis continues to be limited..

As Health Insurance Subsidies Expire, Philadelphia’s Immigrant and Mixed–Status Families Face a Coverage ‘Cliff’
As Health Insurance Subsidies Expire, Philadelphia’s Immigrant and Mixed–Status Families Face a Coverage ‘Cliff’

By Gawhara Abou-eid

According to Pennie, for each new enrollment, two people are terminating their coverage, and about 44% of new enrollees have not paid their January premium, suggesting additional dropouts may occur.

‘We Can’t Afford Mistakes’: The Human Toll of the Crisis in Immigration Advocacy
‘We Can’t Afford Mistakes’: The Human Toll of the Crisis in Immigration Advocacy

By Lauren Abunassar

Today, the advocacy landscape is less about idealism and more about triage, grit and the endurance of caring under pressure.

POLITICS