From Philadelphia to Vancouver and across North America, standing in solidarity with the people of Sudan, Batikh Batikh and MENA are partnering with Philadelphia's Scribe Video Center to host the program, 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘯. On April 5th at 5pm Batikh Batikh will present an in-person screening featuring two films directed by Sudanese women that use archival footage to explore the history of Sudan through a decolonial lens. The film screening will be followed by a hybrid Q&A with the filmmakers. Batikh Batikh will also be tabling with Philly Muslim Freedom Fund and will have pre-addressed postcards and letter drafts to notify Philadeliphia representatives about news and policy on Sudan.
In collaboration with MENA Film Festival, the program will be available virtually to screen throughout North America from April 6-13. All tickets for in-person and virtual screenings are Pay What You Can with all proceeds going to mutual aid in Sudan. Donations for the in-person screening at Scribe can be collected via cash, Paypal or Venmo at the door. You can register for the Philadelphia in-person screening or virtual program at the ticket link above. Scribe Video Center is ADA-accessible. Please wear a mask!
Films featured in the 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘯 program include 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘋𝘰𝘥𝘰 (2022, 5min) dir. by Leena Habiballa and 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘤 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 (2022, 95min) dir. by Sara Suliman. (See below for screening details.)
Leena Habiballa is a writer and film student at the Other Cinemas Film School. She holds a PhD in the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Ageing from Newcastle University and the Mayo Clinic.
SARA SULIMAN is a UK-based Sudanese Filmmaker; A Chevening scholar, researcher, activist, Producer, and Director; And founder of “Fenti (Dates in Nubian Dialect) Productions” an Independent Film Production House.
Sara is a dedicated feminist and youth advocate, believing that Women and Sudanese Youth have a story yearning to be told and yet to be heard. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ahfad University for Women in Sudan (2010) and in 2017, was awarded MA in Gender Studies from SOAS, University of London.
Her first feature film “Heroic Bodies” had its world premiere in IDFA (2022) and was selected in the “Frontlight” section. It’s the first Sudanese feature film to be selected in a section in the history of IDFA. The film also won the Audience Award in Malmo Arab Film Festival 2023 and recently won the Shireen Abu Akleh award for Best Documentary Film in Jerusalem Arab Film Festival.
