For many Americans, awareness of the Arab world, Islam and the Middle East remains mired in misconception and the notion of “the other.” At a time when a deeper understanding is critical, how clear is our window to these worlds? Are there alternatives to the images we see in media and popular culture? Are we hearing the voices of filmmakers whose work articulates the complexities of these lives and cultures? As artists, they wrestle with the burdens of representation and mitigating cultural, political and religious sensitivities. As filmmakers they have to cope with little or no production infrastructure to finance, produce and distribute their work. Panelists Ziad Doueiri (Lila Says, West Beirut), Hany Abu-Assad (Paradise Now), Ramin Bahrani (Man Push Cart), Jocelyne Saab (Kiss Me Not on the Eyes), and Sameh Zoabi (Be Quiet) discuss what is it like to make their films.
Credits
Hamid Naficy
Panelist | Hany Abu-Assad
Panelist |
Ramin Bahrani
Panelist | Ziad Doueiri
Panelist |
Jehane Noujaim
Panelist | Jocelyne Saab
Panelist |
Sameh Zoabi
Panelist |