Through a mix of narrative, documentary and experimental shorts produced all around the world, we present seven stories chronicling the struggles faced by Iraqis over the past 50 years. From the Iraq-Iran War to Desert Storm to ISIS and the persecution of the Yazidi people, these films offer us windows into a world that many of us don't see.
This program includes the following films:
In the Shadow of Paradise (United States) dir. Sahar al-Sawaf & Thomas Helman
Mother is Back (Iraq) dir. Rami Al-Shatri
The Black Veil (Qatar) dir. A.J. Al-Thani
Aziz (United States) dir. Ramiel Petros
Grace (Australia) dir. Brian Patto
Safia (Iraq) dir. Ahmed Abd
Ido (Iraq) dir. Saman Mustefa
Reem is a young Iraqi woman who has been forced into marriage to an ISIS soldier in ISIS controlled Mosul. She was taken away from her family and home on the outskirts of Mosul. Reem finds help in a young Taxi driver named Ahmed to help her escape. She promises him a chest full of gold in exchange for his service. Reem and Ahmed journey out of Mosul and try to escape the harsh violent reality by posing as his wife. When she finds out that her family’s home is destroyed, Ahmed convinces her to leave Mosul and gives her hope that they might have escaped as well. Reem and Ahmed drive into the dangerous barren dark desert where they will meet the very face they tried to escape.
About the filmmaker:
A.J. Al-Thani is an award-winning Qatari filmmaker. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Communications and a concentration in film. She began to pursue her dream of being a filmmaker with the launch of the Doha Film Institute (DFI). Her relationship with the Institute began in 2010 when she participated in one of its first film workshops, which opened the door for many local filmmakers to pursue their passion. For almost 10 years, she has been developing her skills with the help of the Institute. A.J. Has made two short films ‘Kashta’ (2016) & ‘The Black Veil’ (2019).
- Year2020
- Runtime16 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountryQatar
- DirectorA.J. Al-Thani
- ProducerVibhav Gautam
- CastSana Al Habib; Ahmed Al-Nowfal Al-Tamimi
- CinematographerChristopher Moon
Through a mix of narrative, documentary and experimental shorts produced all around the world, we present seven stories chronicling the struggles faced by Iraqis over the past 50 years. From the Iraq-Iran War to Desert Storm to ISIS and the persecution of the Yazidi people, these films offer us windows into a world that many of us don't see.
This program includes the following films:
In the Shadow of Paradise (United States) dir. Sahar al-Sawaf & Thomas Helman
Mother is Back (Iraq) dir. Rami Al-Shatri
The Black Veil (Qatar) dir. A.J. Al-Thani
Aziz (United States) dir. Ramiel Petros
Grace (Australia) dir. Brian Patto
Safia (Iraq) dir. Ahmed Abd
Ido (Iraq) dir. Saman Mustefa
Reem is a young Iraqi woman who has been forced into marriage to an ISIS soldier in ISIS controlled Mosul. She was taken away from her family and home on the outskirts of Mosul. Reem finds help in a young Taxi driver named Ahmed to help her escape. She promises him a chest full of gold in exchange for his service. Reem and Ahmed journey out of Mosul and try to escape the harsh violent reality by posing as his wife. When she finds out that her family’s home is destroyed, Ahmed convinces her to leave Mosul and gives her hope that they might have escaped as well. Reem and Ahmed drive into the dangerous barren dark desert where they will meet the very face they tried to escape.
About the filmmaker:
A.J. Al-Thani is an award-winning Qatari filmmaker. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Communications and a concentration in film. She began to pursue her dream of being a filmmaker with the launch of the Doha Film Institute (DFI). Her relationship with the Institute began in 2010 when she participated in one of its first film workshops, which opened the door for many local filmmakers to pursue their passion. For almost 10 years, she has been developing her skills with the help of the Institute. A.J. Has made two short films ‘Kashta’ (2016) & ‘The Black Veil’ (2019).
- Year2020
- Runtime16 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountryQatar
- DirectorA.J. Al-Thani
- ProducerVibhav Gautam
- CastSana Al Habib; Ahmed Al-Nowfal Al-Tamimi
- CinematographerChristopher Moon