Festivals – War Watch

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Culture | Documentary films | Donald Trump | Festivals | Film | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Sheffield Doc/Fest | Syria | World news

‘I only had this father, and he’s gone’: Wafa Mustafa’s fight for truth and justice for Syria’s missing
ByAlexander Durie June 12, 2026

With more than 177,000 people forcibly disappeared since 2011, short doc Maybe Tomorrow captures ‘the violence of waiting’ experienced by familyWhen Wafa Mustafa was a child, she remembers her father playing the music of Umm Kulthum non-stop at home in…

Read More ‘I only had this father, and he’s gone’: Wafa Mustafa’s fight for truth and justice for Syria’s missing
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Culture | Donald Trump | Exhibitions | Festivals | Gaza | Hamas | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza war | Israel–Iran War | London | Middle East and north Africa | Music festivals | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Protest | UK news | World news

‘Come in for one minute’: Israeli survivor’s appeal to doubters as 7 October exhibition opens in London
ByDaniel Boffey Chief reporter May 19, 2026

Commemoration of atrocity at Nova music festival confronts those who deny its gravity, says Elkana BohbotTwo police vans waited expectantly near the front entrance. Officers patrolled the pavements while suited security men with ear pieces stood stern-…

Read More ‘Come in for one minute’: Israeli survivor’s appeal to doubters as 7 October exhibition opens in London
Asghar Farhadi | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Cannes film festival | Culture | Donald Trump | Festivals | Film | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US-Israel war on Iran

‘Extremely cruel and tragic’: Iranian director Asghar Farhadi speaks out against state violence and the war
ByNadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent May 15, 2026

The film-maker, who won the Grand Prix for A Hero in 2021, condemned both the killing of protestors and the conflict’s bombing campaigns during a Cannes press conferenceOscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has described the deaths of civilians…

Read More ‘Extremely cruel and tragic’: Iranian director Asghar Farhadi speaks out against state violence and the war
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Culture | Donald Trump | Eid al-Fitr | Festivals | Gaza | Global development | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islam | Israel | Israel-Gaza war | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Ramadan | Religion | World news

In Gaza, the joy of Eid has gone. Visiting relatives at the end of Ramadan is a procession through loss | Ahmed Kamal Junina
ByAhmed Kamal Junina March 24, 2026

Every home is missing someone, every person is carrying grief. We went not to celebrate but to sit with the bereavedEid al-Fitr is meant to bring release. It comes at the end of Ramadan, after a month of fasting and prayer, and in Gaza it has always ca…

Read More In Gaza, the joy of Eid has gone. Visiting relatives at the end of Ramadan is a procession through loss | Ahmed Kamal Junina
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Culture | Donald Trump | Festivals | Film | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestine | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Wim Wenders | World news

Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton among those to condemn Berlinale’s ‘silence’ on Gaza
ByNadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent February 17, 2026

At least 80 film-makers and stars sign open letter after German festival jury president Wim Wenders says they should keep out of politicsMore than 80 current and former participants of the Berlinale, including Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton and Adam McKa…

Read More Javier Bardem and Tilda Swinton among those to condemn Berlinale’s ‘silence’ on Gaza
Afghanistan | Africa | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Cate Blanchett | Culture | Donald Trump | Drama films | Europe | Festivals | Film | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Migration | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | Rotterdam film festival | Short films | Somalia | South and central Asia | Syria | Ukraine | World news

Displacement Film Fund review – Cate Blanchett masterminds short film collection that brims with life and intensity
ByPeter Bradshaw January 30, 2026

Rotterdam film festivalA set of shorts by film-makers from Afghanistan, Iran, Ukraine, Syria and Somalia are shocking, funny and mysterious in equal measureWith considerable chutzpah and elan, and in her capacity as producer and UNHCR Goodwill ambassad…

Read More Displacement Film Fund review – Cate Blanchett masterminds short film collection that brims with life and intensity
Belgium | Classical music | Festivals | Flanders Festival Ghent | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel Philharmonic | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Jan Van den Bossche | Munich Philharmonic | Shani, Lahav

Music Festival in Belgium Cancels Concert Led by Israeli Conductor
ByAdam Nagourney September 11, 2025

The Flanders Festival Ghent dropped a Munich Philharmonic program, citing concerns over a conductor’s possible views on Gaza. German leaders called the move antisemitic.

Read More Music Festival in Belgium Cancels Concert Led by Israeli Conductor
Belgium | Classical music | Festivals | Flanders Festival Ghent (Music Festival) | Gaza Strip | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel Philharmonic | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Munich Philharmonic | Shani, Lahav

Music Festival in Belgium Cancels Concert Led by Israeli Conductor
ByAdam Nagourney September 11, 2025September 11, 2025

The Flanders Festival Ghent dropped a Munich Philharmonic program, citing concerns over a conductor’s possible views on Gaza. German leaders called the move antisemitic.

Read More Music Festival in Belgium Cancels Concert Led by Israeli Conductor
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Brian Eno | Culture | Donald Trump | Festivals | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza war | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Music | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices

‘Neutrality should not be an option’: why are so many artists now speaking out on Gaza?
ByTim Jonze September 10, 2025

Musician Brian Eno and artist Malak Mattar, key figures in next week’s Together for Palestine concert, explain why artists are putting fears of a backlash aside and uniting in the call for actionA red carpet event, especially one to promote the new Dow…

Read More ‘Neutrality should not be an option’: why are so many artists now speaking out on Gaza?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Brian Eno | Culture | Donald Trump | Festivals | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza war | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Music | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices

‘Neutrality should not be an option’: why are so many artists now speaking out on Gaza?
ByTim Jonze September 10, 2025

Musician Brian Eno and artist Malak Mattar, key figures in next week’s Together for Palestine concert, explain why artists are putting fears of a backlash aside and uniting in the call for actionA red carpet event, especially one to promote the new Dow…

Read More ‘Neutrality should not be an option’: why are so many artists now speaking out on Gaza?