Aspirations

An ode to coming-of-age stories, this program relates to realizing our "hopes and dreams". These films explore dreams as moments of maturity and growth. Many of these stories deal with women and queer communities who brace different factors when navigating harsh realities. The staff describes this bundle as sappy, inspiring and hopeful.

Co-presented with:

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Runtime:

mins

NYA

Imene Ayadi

France

Algeria

2024

Drama

mins

Language:

Arabic

Suburb of Algiers, 1994. 7-year-old Anya lives in a world unaware of the civil war. She yearns for her father, a journalist, to return for the Mouloud. However, reality intrudes, eroding her childhood

Nalashi

Niya Ahmed Abdullahi

Canada

2024

Experimental

mins

Language:

Harari, English

Witness a mother and her daughter engaging in their Saturday afternoon ritual of drinking hashar qahwa.

Fatmé

Diala Al hindaoui

France

2023

Documentary

mins

Language:

Arabic

In Lebanon, 11-year-old Syrian Fatmé navigates the complexities of identity and strength, determined to prove that she can be both a girl and a warrior.

Sea Salt

Leila Basma

Czech Republic

Lebanon

2023

mins

Language:

Arabic

On this hot summer day, 17-year-old Nayla is faced with the same dilemma every Lebanese youngster is faced: to leave or to stay

Practical Portals

Marwa Eltahir

United States

Sudan

2022

Experimental

mins

Language:

English, Arabic

Practical Portals is an experimental, moving-image series documenting a journey of embodied healing.

A Swing in Atayfiyah / تتبغدد عليه

Bediah

United Kingdom

Iraq

2024

Experimental

mins

Language:

Arabic

An observational documentary of Iraq shot on super 8 paired with Baba's interview of what home is to him.

Jamila

Julia Freij

United States

2023

Drama

mins

Language:

English, Arabic

While reluctantly preparing at a beauty salon for a wedding, a Palestinian American teenager clashes with her family members, challenging her assumptions about culture and femininity.