Films – Arab Film

A Haunted Past

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The film tells the story of Tawfiq, A Tunisian soldier who fought in the Bosnian war against Serbian forces. He ends up imprisoned for six years after returning to Tunisia, only to discover that his Bosnian wife has abandoned their family leaving him to care for their three daughters. He struggles daily between caring for […]

Abdullah and Laila

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Abdullah and Laila

Haunted by memories of his childhood in Baghdad, Abdullah suffers from dementia and struggles to communicate with his British-born daughter, Leilah. As his mind wavers between the past and the unfamiliar present, he no longer remembers the life he has lived in London for the past 60 years or the fluent English he had spoken. […]

Snail

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Snail

A Smuggler who only smuggles males, clandestinely attempts to smuggle three boys across the Iranian-Turkish border. In the middle of the way, he suddenly realizes that one of the passengers is a transgender person. Mohammad Towrivarian| Iran | 2017 | Fiction | 10 min

The Healer

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The Healer

Abdou, a 16-year old teenager, living on the outskirts of a phosphate mining town called Khouribga. His adoptive mother Mbarka, is the neighbourhood midwife and healer. Ch’Aayba, a thirty-year-old man, uncontrollable and ferociously cynical, is an eccentric pickpocket. Suffering from a skin disease, Abdou convinces him to come see Mbarka in order to get treatment: […]

Between Two Seas

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Between Two Seas

A family from a rural area in Egypt is torn apart after a tragic accident. A mother’s search for redemption, revenge, and hope sets the events of this dramatic story of a forgotten society. Anas Tolba| Egypt |Fiction |2019 |87 minutes

Am I a Human?!

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Am I a Human?!

Michelle, an intellectual and writer who. Due to his ideology, in 1980’s Syria , he was arrested and placed in solitary confinement for three years. He tells us about the most difficult evening he spent in jail: the night he was moved to another cell down the hall, in order to tell a child a […]

When We’re Born

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

When We’re Born

The film interweaves the hopes and dreams of three characters in Egypt: a son who yearns to pursue a singing career against his father’s will, a romantic Christian woman who is in love with a Muslim man, and a newly-wed personal trainer, who must compromise his principles for a chance to own a gym. Will […]

The Olden Heralds

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The Olden Heralds

At almost 90 years old, Tatá and Esperanza witness the election of the first Cuban president and for the first time in a century the president elect doesn’t have the “Castro” surname. Secluded on an islet of vegetation, like two lighthouses from a remote era, they witness the end of a political cycle between the […]

Indigo

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Indigo

Indigo is the color given by a villages psychic to children endowed with clairvoyance. Nora, a 13-year-old girl, is confronted with the irrationality and violence of the world. Her group of friends are disturbed by her visions but seem indifferent to her suffering. Indigo tells the initiatory journey of this child in search of her […]

Carroom

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Carroom

The film takes place in the streets and alleys of Taiz city. An area which has been subjected to armed targeting by groups who stand in stark opposition to the culture and nature of the city and its residents. We follow the film from the viewpoint of Anas, who, despite the liberation of “Taiz”, faces […]

I Signed the Petition

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

I Signed the Petition

A Palestinian man signs an online petition supporting the cultural boycott of Israel, immediately after, he is thrown into a panic-inducing spiral of self-doubt. Over the course of a conversation with a friend, he analyzes, deconstructs and interprets the meaning of his choice to publicly support the cultural boycott of Israel. Mahdi Fleifel | UK, […]

The last Resort

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The last Resort

The film revolves around the difficulties that citizens face due the closure of the Sanaa International Airport. The film is a clear message directed to those who have the power to open outlets and facilitate the rights of moving across and within borders. Noor Adeen Morgan| Yemen | Documentary, | 2109 | 10 min

Shrapnel

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Shrapnel

Yousef is a 20 year old photo-journalist from Gaza. As he is documenting the return of many to the Palestinian border, he is shot in the leg by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). After several attempts to convince the Israeli army, he is transferred to the West Bank to continue his treatment away from his […]

Michel’s Flight

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Michel’s Flight

This is the history of Michael. Standing powerfully in the face of his disability, and through his sensitivity, creativity, and wonderful sense of humour. He shows us that we all can be the best at something. Jesus De Frutos Ayuso| Spain | Documentary | 2018 | 19 min

Moment

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Moment

A poetic documentary about sexual harassment and the emotional scarring it causes to all those who face it. These emotions are depicted through the stories of five women across the Middle East. Hadia Elgawish | UAE | 2017 | Documentary | 9 min

After 8 Years

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

After 8 Years

On a Friday 2010, at Nabi Saleh Village, four kids were interviewed at the peaceful weekly demonstrations against the Israeli Occupation. Eight years later, they were interviewed again. Salim Abu Jabal| Palestine | Documentary | 2019| 23 min

Five Minutes

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Five Minutes

During the war on Gaza, the Israeli army finds a new way to spread fear and tension in the hearts of civilians. The occupation forces call the Gazans and give them a five minute evacuation warning before dropping missiles on their homes. The film shows the experiences of three families and how their “five minutes […]

When You Grow Up

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

When You Grow Up

What is work? Everyone works and has to work. The 40-hour workweek is a standard in our capitalistic society. For most of our lives, work consumes most of our available time. Office jobs and assembly-line work have become a symbol for wasting our time on useless labor. The documentary takes a look at people during […]

Violently in Love

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Violently in Love

What does it take to break the cycle of violence? Behind the closed doors of a women’s shelter in Copenhagen, the women and children are slowly recovering from domestic violence. Day by day, the women process their traumas as they attempt to understand the cycle of violence and how to truly break free from its […]

The Swing

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The Swing

Viviane and Antoine have lived together for 65 years, and while she still has her strength, he has long been bedridden. At a certain point physical weakness is extremely difficult to face, so the family try to keep Antoine’s spirit alive. This documentary poem plays out in an imagined state of limbo, in which a […]

Off Sides

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Off Sides

A group of teenage ice hockey players from the Czech town of Náchod set off to Morocco onto, what was to become the most interesting training camp of their careers. They came here not only to play ice hockey, but also to get to know the locals and their way of life. Several months later, […]

For Sama

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

For Sama

A love letter from a young mother to her daughter; “For Sama” is both an intimate journey into the female experience of war. The film follows Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama. All while cataclysmic conflict rises […]

Talking About Trees

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Talking About Trees

Suliman and three other members of the ‘Sudanese Film Club’ have decided to revive an old cinema. United by their love of cinema and their passionate desire to restore old film stock, they repeatedly find themselves up against considerable resistance. They reveal the struggles artists in Sudan face regularly and their experiences of persecution and […]

Sumerce

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Sumerce

In Rural Colombia, veteran activist Don Eduardo, rising political leader César Pachón, and agricultural educator Rosita fight their government’s neoliberal decision that allows companies to carve out their rural rights and their access to fresh water. Victoria Solano | UK, Columbia | Documentary | 2019 | 83 min

Still Recording?

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Still Recording?

Saeed is a young cinephile trying to teach other youth the rules of filmmaking, but in Eastern Ghouta, reality is too harsh to follow rules. His friend Milad is studying Fine Arts in nearby regime controlled Damascus, but it seems like he is worlds away. Milad decides to leave the capital and join Saeed living […]

Tiny Souls

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Tiny Souls

When Marwa is nine years old, she flees with her family from Syria and gets stranded in Jordan. They believe they will be in a refugee camp for a few months, but that quickly turns into years. Dina Naser | Jordan, France, Lebanon, Qatar | Documentary | 2019 | 86 min

Khartoum Offside

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Khartoum Offside

A group of young women in Khartoum are determined to play football professionally, in defiance of the ban imposed by Sudan’s Islamic Military government. Their battle to get officially recognized as Sudan’s National Women’s team is fearless and courageous. Through the intimate portraits of these women, over a number of years, we follow their moments […]

Gaza

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Gaza

A portrait of how people attempt to lead meaningful lives against the rubble of perennial conflict. A Representation that goes beyond the reach of television news reports, to reveal a world rich with eloquent and resilient characters. Garry Keane, Andrew McDonald | Ireland, Palestine | Documentary | 2019 | 92 mins

Western Arabs

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Western Arabs

Omar Shargawi wants to understand his father better and he often casts his father’s character in his films to get closer to him. “Western Arabs” closely intertwines documentary material and scenes from these feature films. Shot over a period of twelve years, this film is an examination by the filmmaker of both his fraught relationship […]

Liza’s Tale

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Liza’s Tale

Today, the world is an uncomfortable place. Two of the four characters are diagnosed with Down syndrome, known as sunny kids. However, is this world sunny enough for them? In hopes of escaping their realities, the characters take a journey into the world of classical cinema with the help of an unusual screen in a […]

Screwdriver

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Screwdriver

In 2002, Ziad and Ramzi are the stars of Al-Amari basketball team. When Ramzi is shot dead in a crossfire, Ziad and his team seek revenge and Ziad is captured by Israeli Forces. When he is released 15 years later, we witness Ziad’s internal battle; as he attempts to consolidate his perception of reality and […]

Ambience

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Ambience

Despite the noise and chaos of the refugee camp, two young Palestinian refugees discover a creative way to record music in order to meet a deadline for a competition. Wisam Al Jafari| Palestine | 2018 | Fiction| 15 min

Story

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Story

A reflection about modern man in the age of omnipresent technology. Looking through stories on social media, we see people who are lonely, lost or already indifferent about the reality surrounding them. The film takes place during one day and it’s told by short, often (auto)ironic scenes, where the virtual world sinks to reality. Jola […]

Just Another Memory

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Just Another Memory

Amidst the ongoing war in Yemen, people are torn between being “safe” and feeling “distant”. Weighed down by the ever-present mental and emotional baggage, how does one move forward and heal? How does deal with so much suppressed pain Mariam Al-Dhubhani| Qatar, Russian Federation,Yemen | Documentary | 2018 | 14 min

Six Home

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Six Home

Some little girls are playing hopscotch, one of the girls lands on her spot. In that moment, a certain truth is revealed. Ebad Adib-Pour| Iran | 2019 | Fiction| 4 min

Urgent

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Urgent

Driss and Zahra leave their fisherman’s village to take their six-year-old son, Ayoub, to the emergency room. The doctor diagnosed him with a brain problem that requires immediate action. This is the starting point of a painful and exhausting journey. Are they ready to do everything to save Ayoub’s life? Mohcine Besri | Morocco, Switzerland […]

Q’s Barbershop

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Q’s Barbershop

By the square of Denmark’s largest social housing estate, lies Q’s Barbershop: red walls, green plants, a ventilator and its hairdresser Qasim. The film is a charming portrait of a hairdresser who creates razor-sharp looks, while providing everyday life advice to his equally charismatic customers, each with their own story to tell. Emil Langballe | […]

Mansoura

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Mansoura

In Morocco, tribes called ‘Soulaliyates’ own 15 million hectares of collective land, however, Women have no right to inherit or exploit them. This is Mansoura’s story, a woman fighting for her land. Najlae Benmbarek | Morocco | Documentary | 2019 | 26 min

2nd Class

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

2nd Class

Charlotte has got a new job as a second grade teacher. One night she is attacked by a nazi and is severely injured. When she comes back to her students she discovers that one of her students is the son of that nazi. Jimmy Olsson | Sweden | Fiction | 2018 | 13 min

Fame

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Fame

For 5 years, Angelo manages to bring artists from all over the world to his little village in southern Italy, Grottaglie. Artists kept going back every year to paint walls and revive Grottaglie. A special documentary about changing a space’s aesthetic identity, an experience for both its inhabitants and its visitors. Giacomo Abbruzzese, Angelo MIlano […]

The Good Terrorist

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The Good Terrorist

Renowned filmmaker Robert Oey investigates the world of terrorism and questions the attitude of the West regarding its own breed of home-grown radicalism. As young men, Jason Walters and Nouredine El Fahtniare, were members of the extremist Dutch Hofstadgroep, a group held responsible for murder, plotting terror attacks and making death threats. Now, they claim […]

Uno – One

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Uno – One

Far out at sea, a cell phone floating inside an air-tight bag starts to ring. Javier Marco Rico| Spain | Fiction | 2018 | 10 min

May the End of the World Catch You Dancing

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

May the End of the World Catch You Dancing

A Street violinist gets ready to play in his usual spot. Hearing his music, a woman stops to listen. She becomes absorbed by the melody and starts to dance. Right here right now, nothing matters except for the music, the dance and what they each dreamt of once upon a time. Josemari Martinez| Spain | […]

The Last Leaf

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The Last Leaf

A story about a little leaf who despite all Nature’s laws, dreams to fly. Until the very last moment believes in his dream. Olya Golubeva | Ireland | Animation | 2017 | 6 min

Game of Chicken

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Game of Chicken

Tony, 14 years old, has a hard time trying to fit in his school environment. When he is bullied by Frank, the leader of a group of boys, Tony decides to get his revenge. He steals a phone and trains himself to play the mobile game and challenges his bully – it becomes more than […]

The Visit

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The Visit

Klaus (60) works voluntary as a Santa Claus in a shopping mall. After an exhausting day, he considers quitting his job. But then, he gets a call from the children’s intensive care unit. Werner Christian | Germany | Fiction | 2018 | 15 min

A Clown’s Tale

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

A Clown’s Tale

Marko and Harald are two struggling artists who work a variety of jobs in order to survive. Regardless of the economic realities of the clowns, they still transform into their red-nosed alter egos and are set free on the grounds of the children hospice. Wherever they appear, the two surprise with witty and funny routines. […]

Blister

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Blister

A man hides his job from his wife. His wife wants to find out the truth, but it creates bigger problems for him. A disaster happens. Morteza Shams | Iran | Fiction | 2018 | 20 min

Burqa City

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Burqa City

Souleymane and Leila just got married, for better or for worse. “The better”, is that they love each other. “The worse”, is that they live in an absurd and kafkaesque country. Fabrice Bracq | France | Fiction | 2019 | 20 min

Angel’s Mirror

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Angel’s Mirror

In China, in the early 1990’s, a little boy and his family have just come to live in a large factory complex. As he explores his new surroundings, he comes across other boys his age playing ping-pong, and discovers that they are fascinated by a cute little girl who spends her days looking out from […]

Supermarket

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Supermarket

A voice says I would like to make you feel nice and comfortable, and to empty your mind of every single thought… Thus begins the story: with an invitation to make you fall asleep, in calm, deep, and peaceful rest. A chaotic landscape, crowded with people, is set up on the screen. The crowd doesn’t […]

El Inferno / Hell

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

El Inferno / Hell

Chennu, as a street kid, committed his first crime when he was 15 years old. He enters “hell”, a hopeless prison in Freetown. Chennu got out after four years, but now he wants to go back in order to help his friends. Raúl De la Fuente| Spain | Documentary | 2019 | 23 min

Portraits of my Mother

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Portraits of my Mother

This is a documentary about my mother and the moment that changed her life. Through her narration, my mother confesses to me what she remembers from the moment she was raped as a child. By painfully recalling this traumatic event, she reflects on the sexual abuse of children and the scars that these events leave […]

Give Me That Camera

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Give Me That Camera

The documentary follows a director’s journey as he seeks to get rid of his fear of using cameras in public. He discusses the risks and restrictions of shooting in public places in Egypt with other independent filmmakers, photographers and journalists. Kareem Hussein | Egypt | Documentary | 2018 | 14:30 min

I Wanted to Live

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

I Wanted to Live

“I Wanted to Live” is an up-to-the-minute cinematic challenge, which represents the documented deaths of more than 35,597 refugees and migrants. People who have lost their lives within, or on the European borders since 1993. The work created a new format that adapts and represent data for the big screen. Turning it into a cinematic […]

Maelstrom

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Maelstrom

Maelstrom is a Documentary of found footage composed out of hundreds of Syrian amateur videos. The film is inspired by the true story of a young Syrian refugee who, in search of a new home, tried to swim from Calais to England. During this fatal journey, memories of his past life haunt the swimmer’s mind. […]

Cellmate

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Cellmate

The story of a female who wants to be a child, not a woman. Behzad khodaveisi | Iran | Fiction | 2019 | 12 min

Sweet Discomfort of Missed Connections

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Sweet Discomfort of Missed Connections

Zahi returns to Lebanon to organize his father’s funeral. His father was abducted and went missing during the Lebanese Civil War. He finds himself trapped between two separate worlds, where no communication is possible. Hussen Ibraheem | Lebanon | Fiction | 2018 | 15 min

Tehran’s Plaque

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Tehran’s Plaque

The story is about a woman who crashes into a food truck. The accident is a hit and run. When she arrives home, she finds out that her motor bike’s plaque is missing. Alireza Mahzoon | Iran | Fiction | 2018 | 13 min

I’m Not an Actress

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

I’m Not an Actress

The story of an Iranian actress who seeks to research drugs and addiction for a role she is playing. In the process, she herself, falls into a drug addiction. Ali Jalali | Iran | Fiction | 2019 | 19 min

Driving Lessons

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Driving Lessons

According to the laws of Iran, Bahareh must have her traditional, chauvinistic husband accompany her to driving lessons, so she and her instructor will not be alone. Marziyeh Riahi | Iran | Fiction | 2019 | 13 min

Prisoner and Jailer

January 21, 2020/in Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

Prisoner and Jailer

“Prisoner and Jailer” tells the story of two contrasting Libyans: a key official in the former regime and one of the most prominent figures of the post-revolutionary period. Through these two characters, we discover the circumstances surrounding one of the most influential events in modern Libyan history: The Abu Salim Prison Massacre. Muhannad Lamin | […]

This is my Night

January 21, 2020/in Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

This is my Night

A woman from a low income family decides to enjoy a day out with her son, who is diagnosed with Down syndrome. She heads to classy ice-cream shop in Cairo, but instead she is faced with a great struggle. Nevertheless, she insists on capturing a happy moment, for both herself and her son. Yussef Noaman […]

Punishment

January 21, 2020/in Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

Punishment

As punishment, a soldier is relocated from the field to the bureaucratic archive division. He meets and falls in love with a girl outside his garrison. Jalal Veisi | Iran | Fiction | 2019 | 10 min

Ayam

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Ayam

Three generations of Moroccan women exchange their feelings and thoughts while preparing for the traditional ceremony of Eid Al Adha. Sofia El Khyari |Morocco , UK | Animation | 2017 | 3:38 min

Pathetic

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Pathetic

A Docu-drama exposing the treatment that Yemeni nationals face outside their homeland. The treatment manifests in the form of a dichotomy, on the one hand, they are treated as pathetic individuals and, on the other hand, a treatment of false respect that reeks of racism. Hanadi al Oreqi shares her experience as a student in […]

Souda – The Black One

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Souda – The Black One

Ala Ajal

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Ala Ajal

A short documentary about the reality of the sport of boxing in Baqa’a refugee camp. The film depicts three main axes: firstly, the story of the protagonist, a boxer from a family of boxing professionals. Secondly, the socio-economic difficulties hindering him from practicing boxing full-time. And Thirdly, the story of the boxing club, and how […]

Eden

January 21, 2020/in Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Eden

Rufina is ready to spend a field day, surrounded by peace and pleasant nature, will it be as simple as it seems? Rodrigo Canet and Eva urbano | Spain | Animation | 2019 | 4 min

The Guest – Aleppo to Istanbul

February 3, 2019/in Fiction, Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

The film follows the journey of Lena and Meryem, who fled the war in Syria. Lena is a ten-year-old girl who has lost her family in the war. She finds herself forced to make her way to Turkey with her baby sister and their neighbor Meryem, along with other refugees. What Lena really wants is to return home, while Meryem’s hope is to reach Europe. They arrive in Istanbul only to face new challenges; abandoned by the only people that could help. Their efforts to survive in the big city, with all its cruelty and coldness, give us hope.

Andac Haznedaroglu| Turkey| Fiction| 2018| 88 min

The Voice of the Rainbow

February 3, 2019/in Documentary, Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

A musician hears his wife’s paintings, bringing his melodies to life. A painter sees her husband’s music, creating work in captivating color.

Tameem Amer | Yemen | Documentary | 2018 | 12 min

Rupture

February 3, 2019/in Fiction, Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

Rupture follows the journey of four Arab teens on their quest to find a public pool in their new city on a hot summer’s day. Introducing a cast of first time actors and war survivors who channel their personal experiences of loss and new beginnings through a fictional narrative.

Yassmina Karajah| Jordan, Canada| Fiction| 2017| 15 min

Fatimah

February 3, 2019/in Documentary, Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

Having fled the war in Syria, Fatimah’s life in a refugee camp in Jordan is run by a patriarchal system. To maintain some peace in the tent city, she succumbs to obeying orders from males, avoiding confrontation. Fatimah talks bravely of the lack of privacy, and the constant judgement and shaming from the men around. Resilient, determined, and wise beyond her young years, she shares her lessons for survival.

In the presence of filmmaker, Omar Rammal

Omar Rammal| Jordan| Documentary| 2018| 10 min

Bump

February 3, 2019/in Fiction, Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

Docu-drama of everyday Yemenis. As they talk about their daily lives, they reflect on what it is to be Yemeni, what matters, what they strive for, and how the ongoing war impacts their social relationships. How life changed, unity has been broken, they face obstacles and bumps, find their resilience, and make choices on the long road ahead.

Ala’a Hafed, Ali Al-Matri | Yemen | Documentary | 2018 | 10 min

I Am Ahlam

February 3, 2019/in Documentary, Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

In a village in Yemen, Ahlam confronts the status quo of females as secondary citizens with no awareness of, nor right to, their rights. She is determined to pursue education as her weapon. As the only female with a university education, she commits herself to teaching, and despite the onslaught of war that disrupts schooling, her resourcefulness enables her to find backing to forge ahead with an education for all plan.

Shadi Al-Areeqi | Yemen | Documentary | 2018 | 12 min

The Day of the Virgin

February 3, 2019/in Fiction, Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

Sarah, a French-speaker, lives in a city where the majority of the inhabitants are Spanish-speakers. Due to ethnic riots, the government has decided to divide the city into three zones and to limit them by a wall. Married to a Spanish-speaker, Sarah lives in Zone A and is thus separated from her brother who lives in zone C.

In the presence of the director, Louise Heem

Louise Heem| France| Fiction| 2016| 23 min

Elles

February 3, 2019/in Documentary, Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Samah, 15 years old, lives in miserable conditions with her family in northwestern Tunisia. Victim of a dire financial situation, the teenager takes the first step in her life on an identical path to that of her mother and ancestors.

Anis Absi| Tunisia| Documentary| 2018| 26 min

The Jaida

February 3, 2019/in Feature Length, Fiction, Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Four women meet in Dar Joued (a women’s prison) on the eve of Independence day. From different ages and social conditions, they are condemned to live together under the authority and injustice of their jailer: Jaida. They share memories of the outside world, and also the joy, emotions and torment of their daily lives in Dar Joued.

Selma Baccar| Tunisia| Fiction| 2017| 110 min

Lilacs

February 3, 2019/in Fiction, Films, Short /by Sawsan Darwaza

After living in Germany for 12 years, Hanna’s mother falls ill in Lebanon and Hanaa returns to see her. The mother’s last wish triggers her to look for her twin brother Firas who got kidnapped in the Lebanese civil war.

Mira Shaib| Germany, Lebanon| Fiction| 2018| 24 min

Counting Tiles

February 3, 2019/in Documentary, Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Forty years ago, she fled with her parents from Lebanon to Greece. Now filmmaker Cynthia Choucair sees how history is repeating itself. The Greek island of Lesbos is being flooded with refugees. It’s an ideal spot for Clowns Without Borders, an organisation that welcomes refugees with humour and cheerfulness, as an antidote to fear and mistrust. Red nose on, bubbles ready to be blown: the group of volunteers is prepared. But where are the refugees?

Cynthia Choucair| Lebanon| Documentary| 2018| 85 min

The Borrowed Dress

February 3, 2019/in Documentary, Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Grandma Susu (80), her daughter Doaa (50), and her grandchild Saad (16) are forced to flee the Syrian civil war and live in diaspora, united by the desire to return home.

Leen Alfaisal| UAE, Jordan, Lebanon| Documentary| 2017| 56 min

The Box

February 3, 2019/in Animation, Films /by Sawsan Darwaza

Have you heard the phrase, think outside the box? This is a story about such a box. The box is full of miserable creatures. One of them doesn’t belong there.

Dušan Kastelic| Slovenia| Animation| 2017| 12 min

You Are A Terrorist

October 31, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

You Are A Terrorist

District Zero

October 29, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

District Zero

One Million Steps

October 29, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

One Million Steps

Searching for the Translator

October 29, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Searching for the Translator

Love During The Siege

October 29, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Love During The Siege

The Price

October 29, 2017/in Fiction, Films /by ala

The Price

Dinner for Few

October 29, 2017/in Animation, Films /by ala

Dinner for Few

The Mechanical Waltz

October 29, 2017/in Animation, Films /by ala

The Mechanical Waltz

Fool’s Paradise

October 29, 2017/in Animation, Films /by ala

Fool’s Paradise

Backwards Run

October 29, 2017/in Animation, Films /by ala

Backwards Run

Cairo 30th

October 24, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Cairo 30th

Tuk Tuk

October 24, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Tuk Tuk

Becoming Bulletproof

October 24, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Becoming Bulletproof

Singing in Exile

October 24, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Singing in Exile

A Place for Everyone

October 24, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

A Place for Everyone

A Flickering Truth

October 24, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

A Flickering Truth

Can the men who risked their lives in Afghanistan restore the records of its colorful diverse past…?

They Will Have To Kill Us First

October 24, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

They Will Have To Kill Us First

What kind of resistance will emerge when extremists ban music in Mali?

We Want to Know

October 3, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

We Want to Know

Taa’ Marbouta

October 3, 2017/in Films /by ala

Taa’ Marbouta

This film is geared towards a female empowering mission statement

A Part of Her

October 3, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

A Part of Her

Not Who We Are

October 1, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Not Who We Are

A documentary by Carol Mansour depicting the political aftermath of war victims.

Patchwork House

October 1, 2017/in Fiction, Films /by ala

Patchwork House

A more than middle aged Palestinian woman is forced to make a living out of cleaning houses. She is faced with an ultimatum when she finds that a particular house she works at is harboring a sinister secret.

A Room with Millions of Walls

October 1, 2017/in Fiction, Films /by ala

A Room with Millions of Walls

All the world’s satellites and surveilance equipment cannot observe the reality of what is happening in Syria. Or at least, it cannot transmit this reality to the world. What makes a person sacrifice his life just to transmit the voice of the unheard to the rest of the world? This just might be a brave […]

Bahar in Wonderland

October 1, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Bahar in Wonderland

Where do you hide from danger when you can’t hide anywhere? The Kurdish girl Bahar believes she has found a way. This is the story of Bahar, a little girl, who given the circumstances shes in cannot be a child. In order to fight her fears, she believes that she can be invisible by closing […]

Three Wars of Milad

October 1, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Three Wars of Milad

From his perspective, how would an eight year old Palestian kid ‘Milad’ see the wars of the adults?

On the Bride’s Side

October 1, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

On the Bride’s Side

A Palestinian poet and an Italian journalist help five Palestinians and Syrians reach Sweden.

I’m Human

September 27, 2017/in Animation, Films /by ala

I’m Human

The Afghan Doll

September 27, 2017/in Animation, Films /by ala

The Afghan Doll

Short Animation about a little girl during the civil war in Afghanistan.

We Are Egyptian Armenians

September 27, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

We Are Egyptian Armenians

Documentary of the lives of Armenians in Egypt, their history, and stories.

Open Bethlehem

September 27, 2017/in Documentary, Films /by ala

Open Bethlehem

Film director Leila Sansour returns to Bethlehem to make a film about her home town, soon to be encircled by a wall. She left the city as a teenager thinking that Bethlehem was too small and provincial. She never wanted to return but this time she is making an exception. She intends her film to […]