Still from Mohamed Al Daradji’s ‘Son of Babylon’

Join Reel Iraq in its next instalment at Sheffield Doc/Fest on June 15^th for the panel Iraq Ten Years On: Reflections Through Documentary with filmmakers Mohamed Al Daradji, Koutaiba Al-Janabi, Sean McAllister and Jehane Noujaim reflecting on their work in Iraq in the last 10 years.

March 2013 marked a decade since the US and UK military led invasion of Iraq. Reel Iraq, a multi-disciplinary festival, seeks to explore the contribution of art, culture and creativity to Iraqi life in a time of conflict through events across the UK. In a panel of Iraqi and British filmmakers, Reel Iraq looks to the representations of Iraq through documentary film over the past decade. Panelists will reflect on their work in or about Iraq in the past decade as well as the current situation.

Reel Festivals

Reel Festivals returns its focus to Syria, celebrating the creativity and resilience of the Syrian people amid a brutal conflict, now tragically into its third year.  PEN award winning Samar Yazbek is the author of A Woman in the Crossfire: Diaries of the Syrian Revolution, a harrowing but poetic account of her experience of the uprising. Join her in conversation with English PEN’s Jo Glanville for a fascinating discussion on new writing in the Arab World at a time of devastating conflict.

For more information and to book tickets please visit:

https://www.hayfestival.com/p-5748-samar-yazbek-talks-to-jo-glanville.aspx

City of Salt perform at Rich Mix, London as part of Reel Iraq 2013. (Photo: Michael Brydon)

Many thanks to everyone who made it along to Reel Iraq events last week, it was a huge success and audiences across the UK got a chance to engage directly with Iraqi poets, filmmakers, artists, writers and musicians, marking ten years since the US and UK led invasion of Iraq by standing in solidarity with the people of Iraq. We’re very thankful to everyone who helped make it happen, to the amazing volunteers who joined in, to all the participants, to the venues in 9 cities across the UK who opened their doors to us.

For those who missed out you can see some great photos of some of the events here:

Edinburgh (photos by Chris Scott)

London (photos by Michael Brydon)

BBC Arabic Arts programme Afaq also did an extensive report on the Music events in London as well as Mona Chalabi’s ‘Photographs by Numbers’ exhibition, you can see it here

We’re also now working on uploading videos from the events, we’ll send out a link to the films once they’re ready.

Awezan Nouri reads at the Scottish Poetry Library as part of Reel Iraq 2013 (Photo: Chris Scott)

For now you can see footage of the poets reading at ‘Found in Translation: Poetry from and for Iraq in collaboration with Maintenant’ here

Filmmaker Roxana Vilk will also soon be releasing her films on the poets who took part, filmed in Erbil and Shaqlawa in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Visas Denied

However, some of the artists we had invited from Iraq were refused visas to the UK and hence could not join us for Reel Iraq.

We were very disappointed not to be joined by Hassan Breesm, Lord Erragal or poet Sabreen Kadhim as their visas were denied by British immigration authorities. The reasoning behind the refusal to issues visas is far from clear and all we can say is that Reel Festivals has done everything in their power to change the outcome but unfortunately to no avail. It is extremely frustrating to have visas denied for these artists, Reel Festivals and the artists involved are incredibly disappointed by this decision. Audiences in the UK deserve the chance to hear these wonderful artists and we will be doing everything we can to bring them to the UK at a later date.

There will be more from us, stay tuned!

Reel Festivals and Firefly International are deeply greatful to all of our sponsors and partners who made Reel Iraq 2013 possible:

Reel Iraq Found in Translation Poets (L-R John Glenday, Awezan Nouri, Ghareeb Iskander, Jen Hadfield, William Letford, Krystelle Bamford & Zaher Mousa)

Thanks so much to everyone who’s made it out to Reel Iraq events across the country, it’s been great to have such packed venues celebrating the resiliance and diversity of Iraqi arts and to have such a warm reception for all the guests and participants. Events are continuing today and tomorrow with the all day Reel Iraq event in Bristol, as well as events in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Leeds. More details below, hope you can make it along to some of the events! We’ve also been filming and recording lots of the events held across the country, they’ll be available on our website soon, as well as a free Reel Iraq music sampler, stay tuned!

Bristol

Reel Iraq All Day Event

The Cube Cinema and Microplex in Bristol will be welcoming artists who have travelled from Iraq for the festival, while also engaging Iraqi and Kurdish creatives based in the South West. This promises to be a truly unique event whilst encouraging debate about what has, and hasn’t, happened in Iraq over the last decade.

Time:2.30pm – 11pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: £7/ £5 concs (unemployed, student, 60+, registered disabled, under 16 / asylum seekers free). This buys an all day ticket to the event.

Venue: The Cube Cinema and Microplex

Leeds

Family Day

Bring the family along for a day of Iraqi painting at WHITE CLOTH GALLERY – every child will get their painting exhibited in the gallery for 1 week, we also have re-runs of all the feature films in case you missed one! The day will be entwined with middle eastern music.

RE-RUN LAST CHANCE SCREENINGS

- KICK OFF

- QUARANTINA

- AHLAAM

- IN MY MOTHER’S ARMS

- IRAQ: WAR, LOVE, GOD & MADNESS

Time:11am – 7pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: £2.00 PER MOVIE – SEE ALL 5 FOR £6.00

Venue: White Cloth Gallery

Followed by screening of Son of Babylon

Dir. Mohamed Al-Daradji / 2010 / Iraq/UK/NL/France / 90 min.

Rural Iraq, 1988. Saddam’s victory propaganda monopolizes the TV. While their mother and auntie are polishing artillery, young Dileer and Zienee’s must tolerate cousin Malo, a bullying little spitfire. Under sweltering heat, both adults and children display the desensitizing effects of war. A thought-provoking and hard-hitting story from the Eastern home-front.

Time:7pm – 11pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: £10 for film and Iraqi food!

Venue: White Cloth Gallery

Glasgow

Found in Translation: Poems for & from Iraq – Glasgow

This very special event features Iraqi poetry from Ghareeb Iskander, Sabreen Kadhim, Zahir Mousa, Awezan Nouri with new translations from John Glenday, Jen Hadfield, William Letford and Krystelle Bamford. Reel Festivals will also present short readings for Iraq by your favourite poets from around Scotland including JL Williams, Iyad Hayatleh, Ellen McAteer, Nuala Watt, Jim Carruth, Alan Riach, Sue Reid Sexton and a new Filmpoem from Alistair Cook. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Iraqi poets, to engage, to ask questions and to enjoy the riches harvested from translation.

Time:6pm – 9pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: £3

Venue: The Poetry Club at SWG3<a

The Iraqi Christ: Hassan Blasim reads from his new short story collection

Come and hear Baghdad-born film-maker and writer Hassan Blasim read from and discuss his highly anticipated second short story collection ‘The Iraqi Christ’ (Comma Press, 2013) in a rare appearance in Scotland. As a refugee of Iraq’s on-going troubles, Hassan has written in detail of the suffering of his homeland post-invasion, and of the plight of its two million refugees. He has won the English PEN Writers in Translation award twice and has recently been described by The Guardian as ‘perhaps the greatest writer of Arabic fiction alive’. An event not to be missed!

Time:8pm – 9.30pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: Free

Venue: Mono

Edinburgh

The Invasion of Iraq: A panel discussion on the artistic and political responses to the war in Iraq

Commemorating the key political developments that marked the run-up to the invasion in March 2003, a group of engaged artists, activists and academics will discuss the artistic and political responses to the war, together with the audience.

Speakers: Maysoon Pachachi, Hassan Blasim, Alan Ingram

Time:3.30pm – 5pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: Free

Venue: Summerhall

‘The Iraqi Christ’: Hassan Blasim reads from his new short story collection

Come and hear Baghdad-born film-maker and writer Hassan Blasim read from and discuss his highly anticipated second short story collection ‘The Iraqi Christ’ (Comma Press, 2013) in a rare appearance in Scotland. As a refugee of Iraq’s on-going troubles, Hassan has written in detail of the suffering of his homeland post-invasion, and of the plight of its two million refugees. He has won the English PEN Writers in Translation award twice and has recently been described by The Guardian as ‘perhaps the greatest writer of Arabic fiction alive’. An event not to be missed!

Time:5pm – 6pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: Free

Venue: Summerhall

Film: Son of Babylon + Short: ‘Cassette’

For the festival’s Edinburgh film finale, Reel Iraq 2013 presents the award-winning Son of Babylon by Mohamed Al-Daradji, in which young Ahmed travels cross-country from northern Iraq with his grandmother, in search of his father who never returned from the Gulf War.

Preceded by Cassette – an experimental short by new Iraqi director Malak Abd Ali.

Time:6.30pm – 8.30pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: £7.50/5.50

Venue: Filmhouse

London

Reel Iraq Family Day – Film: Salaam Dunk & Zipang Storytellers

Join us for Iraqi films and storytelling for all the family.

Salaam Dunk (2011)

By David Fine

(55’) Iraq/USA

Salaam Dunk follows the American University of Iraq women’s basketball team as they discover what it means to be students, athletes and friends. They come from all ethnic backgrounds and sects – Arab, Kurd, Christian, Sunni, Shiite – and have one thing in common: they have never touched a basketball or been allowed to play any sport. This is a story of triumph in the face of chaos and a testament to the perseverance of a handful of young Iraqi women.

Followed by storytelling with ZIPANG Mesopotamian storytellers and others.

Time:1pm – 5pm

Date: 24/03/13

Cost: Free

Venue: Rich Mix

Photographs by Numbers: Panel Discussion

The images in Mona Chalabi’s exhbition explore a story of progress in Iraq that has no easy beginning, middle or end. Each piece depicts a development statistic from a trusted source which is conveyed using a photo of the people that make up the numbers.

On Monday 25 March at 19:00 we will hold a discussion in which Mona Chalabi will be joined by Dr Toby Dodge, Maysa Ibrahim and Myrna Atalla to discuss the issues raised in the exhibition. The event is free and there is no need to book – just come along!

Time:7pm – 8pm

Date: 25/03/13

Cost: Free

Venue: Arab British Centre

Stirling

Reel Iraq presents the Golden Hour Stirling

The Golden Hour has packed houses throughout the world — from the Edinburgh International Book Festival all the way to Melbourne with stops in Berlin, Paris, Beirut and Montreal. We’re bringing our closing party for Reel Iraq to Stirling featuring renowned Iraqi and Scottish poets, short films, and music from Billy Liar, Hailey Beavis and others. You will pause, ponder, clap and sing along.

Iraqi poetry from Ghareeb Iskander, Sabreen Kadhim, Zahir Mousa, Awezan Nouri with new translations from John Glenday, Jen Hadfield, William Letford and Krystelle Bamford. Reel Iraq also presents some of their finest short films and music from Billy Liar and Hailey Beavis.

Time:7pm – 9pm

Date: 25/03/13

Cost: Free

Venue: Raploch Community Campus

Audience at Rich Mix London for Reel Iraq opening night, 21/03/13

Following excellent, packed out opening night events across the country, Reel Iraq continues today with music, film, poetry, exhibitions and discussion events taking place in London, Leeds, Edinburgh .

Unfortunately, due to the challenging weather we have had to cancel the Reel Music event in Dumfries and Galloway.

London

Art, War and Peace: Responses to the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq

This event brings together artists and writers with ties to Iraq to discuss their responses to the invasion and occupation. Featuring talks from Yousif Naser, Rashad Selim, Satta Hashem, Nadje Al-Ali and Hanaa Malallah and a short film by Echo (Sada) on a project to support young artists in Baghdad, the event will consider how, amid the violence, trauma and ruin of war, art practice might express resistance, hope or resilience and speak to dreams of peace.

Time:10.30 – 5pm

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: FREE

Venue: Mosaic Rooms

‘Iraq through a Lens’: Short film screenings

Memories, poetry and music all collide in this programme of shorts from and about Iraq.

Time: 6pm – 7pm

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: FREE

Venue: Rich Mix

Reel Words: Found in Translation – poems from and for Iraq, in collaboration with Maintenant

This special event features Iraqi poetry from Ghareeb Iskander, Sabreen Kadhim, Zahir Mousa, Awezan Nouri with new translations from John Glenday, Jen Hadfield, William Letford and Krystelle Bamford.  Reel Iraq will also present short readings for Iraq from UK based poets including George Szirtes, Joe Dunthorne, Kirsty Irving, Nick-e Melville and Patrick Coyle.  A rare opportunity to hear Iraqi poets, to engage, ask questions and enjoy the riches harvested from translation. Presented in partnership with Maintenant.

Time: 7.30pm – 11pm

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: FREE

Venue: Rich Mix

Photographs by Numbers (Mona Chalabi exhibition)

Opening today, these images explore a story of progress in Iraq that has no easy beginning, middle or end. Each piece depicts a development statistic from a trusted source which is conveyed using a photo of the people that make up the numbers.

The 12 pieces use photography taken from trips to Iraq in 2012 and 2013 to interview Iraqis about their hopes for post-conflict stabilisation. Whether in Erbil, Najaf or Baghdad, the collective narrative Iraqis recounted was a complicated one. The past ten years have been marked by progression, recession and stagnation – development has been anything but linear.

Open daily (22/03 – 28/03)

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: FREE

Venue: Arab British Centre

Leeds

Film: In My Mother’s Arms; Music: Nashwan Media

Join us for day 2 of  the REEL IRAQ FESTIVAL Leeds with another night of Iraqi Cinema, Food and Music…

Eat food with a Middle-Eastern theme to the sounds of Iraqi choubi music from Nashwan Media and watch Mohammed al-Daradji’s In My Mother’s Arms. ‘Husham works tirelessly to build the hopes, dreams and prospects of the 32 damaged children of war, under his care at a small orphanage in Baghdad’s most dangerous district.’

Time: 7.00pm – 11.30pm

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: £10 movie with food

Venue: White Cloth Gallery

Edinburgh

Oud Workshop with Omar Dewachi, Sam Shalabi and Paed Conca

This master-class led by musicians Omar Dewachi, Sam Shalabi and Paed Conca from the group City of Salt offers an introduction to improvisation in Arabic music and beyond. The class will present an overview of improvisation and experimentation using oriental scales on the oud, plus a chance to explore what you have learnt as a group in a fun and interactive jam session.

Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: Suggested donation £20

Venue: Institute for Music in Human and Social Development

The Dreams of Sparrows + Short Film – Old Enough to Know Better

Screening of The Dreams of Sparrows – a unique documentary gathering the reactions of Iraqis shortly after the capture of Saddam. Preceded by Old Enough to Know Better, a short film about the mass school walkout by children in Scotland directly prior to the war. Produced by Edinburgh’s Pilton Video.  Followed by Director’s Q&A with Hayder Daffar, who has come from Baghdad for the event.

Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: £7.50/5.50

Venue: Filmhouse

Reel Music: City of Salt & Leila Albayaty

We’re incredibly excited to welcome City of Salt and Leila Albayaty to Reel Iraq for their UK debut performances for Reel Music, a showcase of the best of contemporary Iraqi music.

City of Salt 

City of Salt are an experimental and startlingly contemporary Arabic three piece who tear apart the rule book and combine the oud, clarinet and electric guitar to explore Middle Eastern traditions through jazz, noise and improvisation. Their unusual compositions and non-conformist attitude will send a shiver down the spine of the purist. Their shows will feature live visuals by Iraqi filmmaker Parine Jaddo. These recently shot visual fragments come to life with City of Salt’s streams of improvised soundscapes, threading meanings of a reality in a dream-like dystopia.

Leila Albayaty

Leila Albayaty is of Iraqi French origin.  A true artist who divides her time between music and movies, directing, composing and performing. At Reel Iraq, she will perform songs taken from her first feature film ‘Berlin Telegram’ and album of the same name. The songs are about love, loss and hope. Leila is a true cosmopolitan oozing with ambition and creativity – experimental and exciting.

Time: 9.00pm – 11.00pm

Date: 22/03/13

Cost: £3

Venue: Summerhall

Dumfries and Galloway

Reel Music: Khyam Allami – Dumfries & Galloway

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY UPDATE: It is with deep regret that we have to announce the cancellation of tonight’s Reel Iraq Music event in Dumfries and Galloway. The road conditions and predictions for this evenings weather have made it impossible to continue.
For more information please see: http://www.reelfestivals.org/schedules/reel-music-hasan-bressm-lord-erragal-dumfries/

Other events will still take place across the UK as advertised.

The Reel Festivals Team

Edinburgh Opening Night

An evening of Iraqi music in all it’s styles, which starts off with exclusive sneak preview of Parine Jaddo’s Broken Record – a poetic journey through Iraq in search of an Iraqi/Turkmen song, which the filmmaker’s mother used to sing. The feature will be preceded by Sing Your Song & Twinning Towns – two short films about Iraq and music, and will be followed by a Q&A with director Parine Jaddo. After the film join us in the Forest Cafe for a performance from virtuoso Oud player Khyam Allami. “Intense and captivating […] Allami’s exceptional technique and musicality dazzled the audience with the beauty of the oud at its best” (Songlines).

Broken Record

Time: 6pm – 8pm 21/03/13

Venue: Filmhouse Cinema

Cost: £7.50/£5.50

Direct Link: http://www.filmhousecinema.com/

Khyam Allami

Time: 9pm – 11pm 21/03/13

Venue: Forest Cafe

Cost: FREE

Direct Link: http://www.theforest.org.uk/

London Opening Night

FREE screening of the incredible documentary The Dreams of Sparrows, a powerful film documenting the lives of ordinary Iraqis after the fall of Saddam, followed by Q&A with director Hayder Daffar, who will be coming from Baghdad for the event, and music from Oud master and tutor to festival artists, Omar Dewachi (City of Salt) and Khyam Allami, Ehsan Al-Emam

Time: 7pm – 11pm 21/03/13

Venue: RichMix

Cost: FREE

Direct Link: http://www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/festival/reel-iraq/

Leeds Opening Night

Two very special screenings in Leeds to mark the opening night of Reel Iraq 2013:

First up is an evening of Iraqi cinema, Food and Music at the White Cloth Gallery. Iraqi director Shawkat Amin Korki’s film Kick Off is a story of love and football, set in Kirkuk, Iraq. Screening with the shorts Twinning Towns and Happy Birthday. And all served up with delicious Iraqi food!

Following this join us at the Hyde Park Picture House for the UK PREMIERE of Qarantina, Iraqi filmmaker Oday Rasheed’s second feature which gorgeously captures contemporary Baghdad’s moody interior and stunned atmosphere, echoed in performances by a formidable cast who suggest unexpected resilience in the wake of catastrophe. Screening with short films The Dinar Dealer and My Name is Mohammed.

Kick Off

Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm

Venue: White Cloth Gallery

Cost: £10.00 movie & food

Direct Link: http://reeliraqleeds.eventbrite.com/#

Qarantina

Time: 9pm – 10.30pm

Venue: Hyde Park Picture House

Cost: £2

Direct Link:http://www.hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk/index.php?showing=4837#now-showing

Dumfries & Galloway Opening Night

In Dumfries & Galloway we have two special events to mark the opening night of Reel Iraq:

At the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre we are proud to be screening the incredible documentary The Dreams of Sparrows, a powerful film documenting the lives of ordinary Iraqis after the fall of Saddam.

Following this, down the road at the beautiful Bakehouse we will have the first outing of Found in Translation: Poems for and from Iraq. This event is the culmination of the Reel Iraq translation project which began in Erbil, Iraq and features Iraqi poetry from Ghareeb Iskander, Sabreen Kadhim, Zahir Mousa, Awezan Nouri with new translations from John Glenday, Jen Hadfield, William Letford and Krystelle Bamford. Reel Festivals will also present short readings for Iraq by your favourite poets from around Scotland including Liz Niven, Tom Pow, Chrys Salt, Hugh McMillan, Elsp eth Brown, Donald Adamson, John Hudson, Alan McClure and Angus Macmillan. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Iraqi poets, to engage, to ask questions and to enjoy the riches harvested from translation.

The Dreams of Sparrows

Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Venue: Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre

Cost: £6.90/£5.20

Direct Link:http://www.rbcft.co.uk/films-showing/march.html#sparrows

Found in Translation

Time: 7.30pm – 11.30pm

Venue: The Bakehouse

Cost: FREE

Direct Link:http://www.thebakehouse.info/

Newcastle Opening Night

An evening of Iraqi music on film at the excellent Star and Shadow, which starts off with exclusive sneak preview of Parine Jaddo’s Broken Record (2013)– a poetic journey through Iraq in search of an Iraqi/Turkmen song, which the filmmaker’s mother used to sing. The feature will be preceded by short films Cassette (2012), a subtle, non-narrative work exploring recent history through audio tapes by Iraqi director Malak Abd Ali and Sing your Song (2012), a short documentary by Omar Falah following musicians struggling under restricitve clamp downs on culture.

Time: 7.30pm – 11pm

Venue: Star and Shadow

Cost: £5/4

Direct Link: http://www.starandshadow.org.uk/on/film/1136

Derry/Londonderry Opening Night

Screening of The Dreams of Sparrows – a unique documentary gathering the reactions of Iraqis shortly after the capture of Saddam. Haydar Daffar and his crew gather the reactions of Iraqis from all walks of life. Baghdadi painters, writers and filmmakers deliberate over the events of recent years and the Iraq they live in today. Screening with short film, Old Enough to Know Better,about a mass school walkout in Scotland in March 2003 in protest against the war in Iraq. Followed by Q&A with Iraqi director Haydar Daffar via Skype

Time: 6pm – 8.30pm

Venue: CCA Derry-Londonderry

Cost: FREE

Direct Link: http://cca-derry-londonderry.org/

There will be Iraq events across the UK over the weekend of 21 – 25 March, as well as exhibitions opening on 16/03 & 17/03 in Edinburgh, 18/03 & 22/03 in London and on 21/03 in Leeds and a day long programme of events in Bristol on 24/03, please check our website for full details.

The link will be sent out on 23/03, so you’ve got to be quick.

See the musicians perform at the following Reel Iraq events:

London

23/03 6.30pm – 11.30pm, Rich Mix: Reel Music with Khyam Allami, City of Salt, Leila Albayaty, DJ Ritu and exclusive preview screening of Broken Record

Edinburgh

21/03 9pm, The Forest: Lord Erragal & Hassan Breesm

22/03 9pm, Summerhall: City of Salt & Leila Albayaty

Bristol

24/03 all day, The Cube: City of Salt & Reel Iraq all day event

Leeds

22/03 7pm, White Cloth Gallery: Khyam Allami & Film ‘In My Mothers Arms’

24/03 7pm, White Cloth Gallery: Hassan Breesm, Lord Erragal & Film ‘Son of Babylon’

Glasgow

23/03 8pm, The Glad Cafe: Hassan Breesm & Lord Erragal

Dumfries & Galloway

22/03 8pm, Greyfriars Church: Hassan Breesm & Lord Erragal as part of the Dumfries and Galloway launch event

Mohamed Al-Daradji

From an early age and unbeknown to my parents I sneaked to the cinema every week to watch the latest film from India – there was only ever one career choice for me.

These experiences inspired my decisions later in life; exploring filmmaking, my national identity and the issues surrounding the people of my country. Cinema can have such a profound and positive impact on people, not just as entertainment, but more importantly, as an education. I am passionate about my country and its future and feel my art, addressing post war subjects is the best way for me to enlighten as well as evoke empathy.

Iraq has a rich and colourful history and is well known in the region for its art and culture. Despite this, more recent events have ensured a different international opinion.  Amidst the violence of Saddam’s regime, the resulting coalition invasion and the prolonged occupation, the international view of Iraq and its people has become distorted and negative because of its troubled situation.  Though much of its infrastructure has been ruined, its film and media institutions and cinemas destroyed, in truth Iraq still holds a cultural and artistic nature, one that is slowly but surely, emerging and catching the attention of an international audience, as well as Iraq’s natives. Now more than ever there is a flurry of exciting and unique art emerging from Iraq, something that deserves recognition.

Personally, I feel it is important to show an international audience the real situation in Iraq; the people who live there and the struggles they faced and have overcome, both during and after Saddam’s regime. I want to shine a positive light and to help recognise Iraqi’s as human beings, rather than statistics on the news. I make my films for the people of Iraq, to share their stories. Of course, it is my responsibility as an Iraqi and as a filmmaker to tell the world about Iraq and also the Iraqi people themselves. When they watch the film in the cinema, they see it in a different way from international audiences; they see they are being heard as human beings and must learn from the past and Iraq’s mistakes to understand reality in a different way. For these reasons it is crucial that they are filmed on location in Iraq rather than a substitute, such as Jordan or Morocco. It is vital to the story, its message and Iraq’s existence. Hollywood films made about Iraq and the war may bring attention to Iraq but are often bias and fail to address issues facing the Iraqi people or their point of view.

Events that showcase the art and culture of Iraq, serve only to benefit its people and an international audience. The Reel Iraq Festival is a perfect example of such a function and a lifeline in preserving, securing and promoting the future of Iraqi culture globally.

See director Mohamed Al-Daradji’s films at the following Reel Iraq events

Leeds

22/03 7pm In My Mother’s Arms – White Cloth Gallery

23/03 8pm Ahlaam – Hyde Park Picture House

24/03 7pm Son of Babylon – White Cloth Gallery

Edinburgh

24/03 6.30pm Son of Babylon – Filmhouse Cinema

Find out more about Mohamed Al-Daradji’s work on the Human Film website

Awezan took part in the Reel Festivals poetry translations workshops in Shaqlawa, Northern Iraq, which you can read more about in Zaher Mousa’s guest blog, and read at the Erbil Literature Festival, supported by the British Council. She will be coming to the UK from Iraq as part of Reel Iraq, we are hugely excited to have her take part.

You can see Awezan read at the following Reel Iraq events:

21/03/13 Found in Translation – Dumfries

22/03/13 Found in Translation – London (in collaboration with Maintenant)

23/03/13 Found in Translation – Edinburgh

24/03/13 Found in Translation – Glasgow

Read an article about Awezan’s activism in Kirkuk here

Catch him at the following events:

21/03/13 Reel Iraq Opening Night, Edinburgh

22/03/13 Reel Music Dumfries

23/03/13 Reel Music Glasgow

24/03/13 Closing Party, Leeds

Hasan Bressam on Iraqi TV (2011)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hasan Bressam “Leil El Boaad” (Far away nights)

Click here to view the embedded video.