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

With Leila Albayaty, Samira El Mouzghibati and Farah Kassem. Moderated by Iskandar Abdalla, Artistic Director of ALFILM.

> Sunday 27.4.2025 | 17:00
Wolf Kino | Free Admission

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 is a French director, musician and visual artist of Iraqi origin. Self-taught, she writes, directs, plays and composes music for her films.

Samira El Mouzghibati is a Belgian-Moroccan filmmaker and editor, with a background in editing and scriptwriting from INSAS Brussels. In her work she delicately weaves personal and universal narratives while reconnecting with her roots.

Farah Kassem is a Lebanese filmmaker and editor whose award-winning short documentaries have screened at festivals like Visions du Réel and DOK Leipzig. Currently pursuing a PhD in the Arts, We Are Inside is her debut feature.