A Public Resource Guide to West Asian and North African Cinema, Archives and Everyday Life. A guide for anyone curious about food, music, celebration and daily life. No specialist knowledge is needed. Whether you are a student, a researcher, a teacher, a community organiser, or someone who simply loves film and food, this resource is for you. This resource guide is split by nation, for archives hidden between the code.
From wedding songs celebrating the bride and groom, to lullabies whispered to soothe children at night, the voices of Saudi women have long carried the melodies of daily life. Yet, much of this musical heritage risks fading from memory. This is where Sawt Asura (“Voice of the Image”) steps in.
Founded in 2020 by researcher-artist Tara Aldughaither, the Saudi-based platform seeks to preserve and reactivate women’s musical traditions. Collaborating with local artists, researchers, and communities, Sawt Asura collects and archives audiovisual recordings of folk songs and performances by women—ensuring they are documented to remain part of the cultural narrative.
From the 1970s to the early 2000s, Syria’s cassette era reshaped the country’s musical landscape. During that period, cassettes became the primary medium for local, regional, and national recordings—giving a platform to folk and pop musicians whose sounds rarely travelled beyond their communities. The growing collection reflects Syria’s rich cultural diversity, with music from Syrian Arabs, Assyrians, Kurds, Armenians, and displaced Iraqi artists.
Founded in 2018 by producer-archivists Mark Gergis and producer Yamen Mekdad, Syrian Cassette Archives digitizes and shares this repertoire online. Featuring curated audio, interviews, and written works, the archive continues to preserve and celebrate the vibrant sounds and memories that define the region’s rich musical history.
Cinematheque Beirut is dedicated to the art and conservation of cinema in Lebanon. It continues the efforts undertaken by the Metropolis Association in terms of promoting the Lebanese and Arab cinema heritage and documenting the Lebanese movie production.
