Panel Discussion :On Mothers and Fathers: Family Archives and Arab Documentary Cinema

Das sagt der/die Veranstalter:in:

In recent years, family narratives have emerged as a defining trope in Arab documentary cinema, almost forming a genre of their own. This recurring focus raises questions about the reasons behind this popularity and the narrative and aesthetic possibilities they offer. The films in this year’s ALFILM edition are no exception.

Has the exploration of the personal and intimate become a means of addressing the public and political—circumventing censorship and overcoming inhibitions? Or is the personal itself the conduit through which the political is woven into an artful account? What storytelling modes can best capture family histories, struggles, secrets, and untold stories on screen? And what journeys of healing, self-exploration, and transformation do these films enable—whether in the region or in the diaspora?

Panelists:  Leila Albayaty, Samira El Mouzghibati and Farah Kassem.