The Father, The Son and The Jihad

The Father, The Son and The Jihad is the story of the Ayachis, a French-Syrian Muslim family who trade their peaceful lives in Europe for the revolution in Syria.

The first hour of this two-part special follows the story of the son, who was a university student and established a small computer business. He then became a famous warlord in Syria fighting against Assad and ISIL. The second hour follows the father’s return to Syria to continue his son’s work.

Part one premieres on Wednesday, 9 November at 22:00 with part two premiering a week later on Wednesday, 16 November 2016. 

Piano: Ukraine's Uprising

During the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine in 2014, an old blue and yellow piano was rescued from becoming part of the barricades. Perched on top of a burnt-out truck, it soon became a focal point in the midst of violent demonstrations against the pro-Russian government.

Music student, Antuanetta Mishchenko, played the piano every day and night as a gesture of peace and defiance against police aggression. As the crowds grew in Maidan Square, a host of protesters joined Antuanetta and played the piano. Their music provided a backdrop to the revolution and a welcome reminder of the freedom for which they were fighting.

Piano: Ukraine's Uprising won Best Documentary at Mediawave and a Special Mention at the Krakow Film Festival. The documentary premieres on Sunday, 20 November at 00:30, with a repeat screening on Wednesday, 23 November.

In the Shadow of the Hill   

In November 2011, military police took control of the Rio de Janeiro’s largest favela, Rocinha, forcing out armed gangs of drug traffickers without a single shot fired, in a government initiative to ‘pacify’ the slums. Shortly afterward, reports began to emerge of widespread police abuse, which culminated in the disappearance of local bricklayer Amarildo de Souza. He was last seen being taken into the police station for questioning but never came home. His family believed that he had been tortured and murdered by the police, with impunity, like many other innocent civilians in the city. In the face of brutal oppression, local residents started a protest movement, 'Where is Amarildo?' that shook the Brazilian establishment to the core.

In The Shadow of the Hill won the Australian documentary competition at the Sydney Film Festival and is currently nominated for five Australian Academy Awards. The documentary will have its world premiere broadcast on Wednesday, 30 November at 22:00. 

For more information, visit www.aljazeera.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.