Documentaries

  • Nowfal Al Janabi never had the intention to make a documentary film in my life. However, he often found himself unwittingly
  • immersed deeply in a story. Often, he would then feel persuaded to change the story into a documentary. It is as simple as that.
  • The building blocks of Al Janabi documentary films are first laid when he is in the process of documenting real-time events (e.g., elections, referendum, militia war or chasing Al Qaeda).
  • In his documentaries, Al Janabi narrates the story as it really took place. The heroes, who are usually victims of oppression and discrimination, recount their horrendous experiences.
  • Nowfal Al Janabi strongly believes that a documentary should reflect the feelings of the people; many of them think that their stories of pent-up frustration will never be heard.
  • For Al Janabi, the documentary’s tempo is crucial and he has always refrained from pretentious professionalism and even abhored it. The golden rule lies in simplicity.
  • In his reckoning, simplicity means the smart depiction of every aspect of life and seeing things which others fail to see, or perhaps they see it without giving any heed to it.

Arabic Calligraphy

Arabic Calligraphy During Arabic Character World Day, Al Arabiya took the journey of the Arabic lettering, which has been inducted into 145 other languages, and documented its evolution. The Arabic

“Jurf al-Milh”

“Jurf al-Milh” Iraqi village makes profit off leftover arms, shown in Al Arabiya film

Barham Saleh, a Prominent Figure Under Spotlight

Barham Saleh, a Prominent Figure Under Spotlight After the post-Saddam landscape was charted, many statesmen came strongly to the fore while others vanished into oblivion. Barham Saleh was one who

Struggle for the Leadership of Al Qaeda

Struggle for the Leadership of Al Qaeda This documentary reveals shocking facts including Ayman Al Zawahiri’s collusion in the assassination of Osama Bin Laden and his aides in a bid to settle score

Mubarak, from Presidency to Trial

Mubarak, from Presidency to Trial A documentary featuring the contradictions which the ousted president Hosni Mubarak had to live with during his reign. It underlines the overwhelming influence of

The Rise and Fall of Saleh

The Rise and Fall of Saleh The story behind the rise of Ali Abdulla Saleh to power in Yemen, and eventually the presidency. With exclusive footage, the documentary unveils the secrets of

The Colonel’s Jamahiriya

The Colonel’s Jamahiriya The video content of this documentary is derived from the untapped archive of Muammar Gaddafi. It broadcast unique pictures summing up the colonel’s life story from the time

Part Tow

The Road to MesopotamiaA documentary mirroring the impact of the novel culture of elections, newly drafted constitution and referendum on Iraq in general.It is a depiction of the sweeping changes in

Part One

The Road to Mesopotamia A documentary mirroring the impact of the novel culture of elections, newly drafted constitution and referendum on Iraq in general.It is a depiction of the sweeping changes in

Saturday Meetings

Saturday Meetings Anecdotes of political and cultural debates by Saudi intellectual groups, scholars or businessmen hosted at their homes on Saturdays. Distinguished Saudis including technocrats

Trial of Saddam Hussein

Trial of Saddam Hussein This documentary on the trial of Saddam Hussein along with his regime’s coterie is narrated from a different perspective. It is an accurate interpretation of Saddam’s

Sheikh Jameel’s Tales

Sheikh Jameel’s TalesA series of anecdotes and events narrated by Sheikh Jameel Jalal, the pilgrims’ guide in Mecca to monarchs, princes and celebrities. In a humorous vein, the documentary reveals

Constitution: A Tale from Iraq

Constitution: A Tale from IraqThis documentary was shot at a time of intense conflict in Baghdad in 2005. It tells how the Iraqi people got used to living with constitutions that were drawn up to fit

Part Two

A QuagmireA documentary shedding light on the historical fallacious move of the Iraqi Sunnis when they boycotted the first parliamentary elections following the toppling of the regime of Saddam

Part One

A QuagmireA documentary shedding light on the historical fallacious move of the Iraqi Sunnis when they boycotted the first parliamentary elections following the toppling of the regime of Saddam

A Dull Day

 A Dull Day A documentary narrating the daily goings-on in a very basic café nestling in the backyard of Al Harj Souk in Maidan district, Baghdad. Interestingly, soon after it was broadcast on