‘This has made us feel that we exist and our existence is appreciated.’
As three of the incredible films made by participants during our project ‘Film For Freedom’ are selected to be showcased at international film festivals, we celebrate this huge achievement for our filmmakers.
Tayma’s powerful film ‘Hope Is Alive’ shares her experience of being forced to leave education in order to flee from Syria to Lebanon, and shortly after being pressured into an early marriage and motherhood. This powerful film, which explores the impact of underage marriage on girls, and her refusal to allow history to repeat itself in the life of her own daughter, has been selected to be shown at the ‘International Migration and Environmental Film Festival’ in Toronto, happening on September 4th 2024.
Jouhayna’s film ‘Journey’ is about overcoming conservative traditions, and finding agency and freedom in work, based on her own story of transformation. ‘Journey’ has been selected to be shown at the ‘Female Filmmakers Festival’ in Berlin, taking place on October 2nd 2024.
‘Mira’s Eyes’, a film about how work has helped maker Mona find strength, despite the death of her son, her displacement, and the severe injury of her daughter, has been selected for ‘Image This Women’s Film Festival’, happening in New York from 19th September- 29th September.
Reema’s film ‘Loujain’ focuses on her daughter who struggled to adjust to life as a refugee in Beirut’s infamous Shatila camp, until she got a scholarship to a private school where, despite facing issues of class and racism, she flourished academically. ‘Loujain’ has been selected to be shown at ‘Beirut International Children and Family Film Festival’, which be screened at schools around Lebanon during the months of December 2024 - February 2025.
We are beyond proud and excited that these important, inspiring, and beautiful films, created in Beirut’s refugee camps, are being showcased around the world. These films will be watched in London, Beirut, Toronto, Berlin, New York, and hopefully many more cities where these tales of resilience and hope are so needed. These women’s stories deserve to be heard, their existences appreciated.
You can watch all of the films created during ‘Film For Freedom’ on our Vimeo page, and keep your eyes peeled for our next group of filmmakers, who are working on their own films as I write this.
Update: Since writing this, Jouyhayna’s film ‘Journey’ has been selected as the winner in its category at the Female Filmmakers Festival in Berlin. This achievement is a reflection of Jouhayna’s talent, bravery and honesty and so well deserved.
