Férid Boughedir’s essential documentary, Caméra Arabe (1987), charts the emergence of the New Arab Cinema over two pivotal decades. Following the successful formula of his earlier work, Caméra d’Afrique, Boughedir delivers a fast-moving, enlightening hour of clips and rare testimonies, making a heartfelt declaration of unwavering support for politically engaged Arab cinema that dared to challenge the commercial dominance of mainstream production. The film analyses this new wave, born from the 1960s independence movements, through the complex lenses of politics, society, and culture. It reveals the direct, often secret, link between these critical, independently produced auteur works and major regional events: the Six-Day War, Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem, and the War in Lebanon. These historical ruptures led a generation of filmmakers to ask fundamental questions: “What is an Arab man today? What can he express through cinema?” Caméra Arabe, an Official Selection at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, features pivotal voices like Merzak Allouache, Omar Amiralay, Michel Khleifi, and the late Egyptian master, Youssef Chahine. Chahine’s intelligent, anguished battle to describe the Arabs’ shaken sense of identity perfectly encapsulates the documentary’s core theme. The film’s bold, incisive rhythm is owed to the editing of the late Moufida Tlatli, who would later become Tunisia’s first female director.Boughedir’s uncompromising vision is also evident in the film’s controversial content, which includes an excerpt from Borhane Alaouié’s Kafr Kassem, a powerful scene depicting the firing on unarmed Palestinian women, a boldness that likely hindered its wider distribution but affirms its critical relevance today. GFF is proud to present the 2024 4K Restored Version of this vital film, which was recently an Official Selection at Italy’s prestigious Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna. Screening this masterpiece is a fitting addition to our Tribute to Youssef Chahine, celebrating his contribution to the New Wave of Arab Cinema. Raman Chawla