Film Windows at the Karama Human Rights Film Festival – 15th Edition
The 15th edition of the Karama Human Rights Film Festival concluded with a series of special film windows that highlighted diverse human rights issues from Sudan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. These windows reflected the festival’s rich variety of perspectives and messages.
Sudan:
In the Sudan window, two short narrative films were screened. The first, “Al-Sit” by director Suzannah Mirghani, explored the life of a 15-year-old girl in a cotton-farming village, clinging to long-standing traditions. The second, “A Handful of Dates” by Hashim Hassan, portrayed a boy’s relationship with his grandfather in the idyllic backdrop of the Nile and palm trees, revealing hidden truths behind a seemingly peaceful life. These films were presented and discussed by Sudanese ANHAR member Talal Afifi from Sudan Film Factory.
Lebanon:
As part of the “Karama Beirut” window, the short narrative film “Out of Battle” by Jaafar Al-Asal was presented, telling the story of two journalists amidst the vibrant borders between Lebanon and Palestine. Additionally, the feature documentary “We Went and We Didn’t” by director Lulwa Khoury explored the unrequited love between the Lebanese people and their homeland, depicting the painful duality between Beirut and New York.
Palestine:
In the “Karama Palestine: Red Carpet Human Rights Festival” window, several outstanding Palestinian films were showcased. The short documentary “Faces of Solidarity” by Taha Sider examined the wave of solidarity across the UK in response to Gaza’s plight. The feature documentary “Life is Beautiful: A Letter to Gaza” by Mohammed Al-Jabali, who attended the screening, reflected on his personal experience of being stranded in Norway due to Gaza’s closed borders. Other films included the short narrative “I’ll Come Back to You” by Odai Joubeh, the feature documentary “Eyes of Gaza”, which highlighted the immense risks faced by journalists in Gaza, and the documentary “Gaza: Voices of Life and Death” by Hossam Abu Dan, capturing the emotional and physical transformation of Gaza after the war.
Syria:
The Syrian Window presented a selection of films that delved into profound human and cultural issues. Highlights included:
- “Becoming Iphigenia”: a retelling of Euripides’ play by recently arrived Syrian refugees in Germany.
- “Cinema AlDunia”: a short documentary exploring the history and uncertain future of Damascus’ cinemas.
- “My Memory is Full of Ghosts”: a documentary examining whether memory can prevent violence, nominated for the ANHAR Award.
- “Olive Planet”: an animated film about a young boy dreaming of becoming a football player amidst the harsh realities of military life.
These films served as a platform to portray the pain of war and displacement while shedding light on Syrians’ resilience and hope for the future.
