Category: Blog

American Arab at Best of CUFF Virtual Fest

by admin

The Chicago Underground Film Festival has been playing my films since 1998! Holy shit. If it wasn’t for Bryan and CUFF I would not be who I am today. They asked me if I had any fun stories about CUFF… and I have so many. Some are epic and shall not be repeated and others I can barely remember, lol. But it was my friendships and connections with all the wonderful folks at CUFF, and the filmmakers that I feel a kinship with– it was an extension of everything that I loved about Chicago and this more fringe set of … Read the rest

Usama Talk – The Spring Pandemic

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Audio stories and reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic from March 14th to April 26th, 2020.

Voices from Usama Alshaibi, Talia Watrous and Muneera Alshaibi. Additional media clips include Doctor Facui, Doctor Suraj Saggar and Donald Trump with reporters.

New Year

by admin

As I reflect back I realize I don’t fully understand this life and reality. But I’m trying to let go of worry, let go of bitterness, let go of negative patterns, and to embrace wonder, kindness, laughter and compassion. I think there is something profound and also absurd about being human. I’m content with this beauty and chaos swirling in me. I used to think I needed so much, and I realize that I don’t need much, and I love being alone. But I am spending more time with my daughter—trying to spend more time in the forests and … Read the rest

Boy from War zine issue 1

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If you enjoy my films please consider purchasing my latest zine Boy from War. These are selections from my art journals when I was 18 years old and full of passion and angst. I was a romantic weird guy, trying to figure out my life by working out my stuff in drawings and words.

30 years later I decided to publish this embarrassing work as a peak into my headspace as a young man.

I think of this as a type of time-machine that can fuse my past and present into something new.

This is a hardcover zine with 80 … Read the rest