Bilal Qureshi

Filmmaker Satyajit Ray earned a lifetime achivement Oscar for his beloved Apu Trilogy, released between 1955 and 1959. Badly damaged by fire, the original negatives have now been restored.

With its flashy swagger and quotable one-liners, Empire, the Fox series about a black music label, has become a cultural phenomenon. A watch party in D.C., had just as much.

Abderrahmane Sissako's film was inspired by the seizure of the Malian city by Islamist fighters in 2012. It has won international accolades with its lyrical beauty and critique of religious extremism.

David Oyelowo talks about playing Martin Luther King Jr. in the Oscar-nominated film Selma — as well as the LBJ controversy, slavery and how he learned about what it's like to be black in America.

The new Russian film Leviathan chronicles one man's struggle against a greedy mayor confiscating his property, providing an epic and timely portrait of Russian society.

Bolivar liberated six countries from Spanish rule in the early 19th century. A new film about his life features epic battles, rousing speeches and stunning landscapes in the spirit of Braveheart.

The transition from one part of the world to another is filled with anticipation, conflict and drama. These trips can herald life-changing transformations for families seeking out better lives.

Ayad Akhtar plumbs his past to grapple with what it means to be Muslim in America. While some accuse him of airing dirty laundry, Akhtar uses such questions not just for rupture but also for renewal.

The Immigrant and Zinda Bhaag are idea-driven films that delve into the global arc of migration from different corners of the world.

Kasem hosted one of the country's most popular countdown shows for four decades. This piece originally aired on Weekend Edition on June 15, 2014.