On Wednesday, we were proud to a host a member screening of For Sama, followed by a Q&A with directors Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Waad and Edward spoke to Tom Roberts about structuring the documentary, finding hope amongst the devastation, successfully editing the footage and their hopes for the film going forward.
If you weren’t able to make the event, you can catch up with our live-tweets below.
We’re looking forward to our member screening of For Sama, followed by a Q&A with directors @waadalkateab and @watts_edward. Follow #DUKSama for the tweets! pic.twitter.com/NipVoLXDEf
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
What a shattering, powerful and intensely moving film #ForSama is. Now we’ll be hearing from directors @waadalkateab and @watts_edward, in conversation with Tom Roberts. #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Tom asks Waad if making the film has been part of a healing process. Waad: “Partly, but it was also something more urgent.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “Only 8 minutes of the film is footage I’ve already sent out of Aleppo, the rest was previously unseen. Even Channel 4 was shocked by the footage” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “In the cutting room floor, I was amazed to see how much I’d captured, all the things that had come out correctly.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Edward: “For me, when I first leaned about Waad’s story, I saw that it was about holding hope in your heart, and making the best of your life.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Tom hands it over to the audience for questions. #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
A member asks about how the pair became co-directors. “I had been interested in Syria for a long time. I was partnered with Waad because she had this amazing store of footage and they wanted someone to do it justice. She has an incredible documentarian instinct.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “The last two years working together have been an incredible learning experience.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
#DUKSama pic.twitter.com/0PJKC09Qj1
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
A member asks about working with Channel 4. #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “The relationship with Channel 4 was more than a working one, it was like family, it was emotional. They were so supportive.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
A member asks how they came up to the idea of structuring the film like a letter “For Sama”. #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Edward: “We were looking through the footage and so much of it had this home video feel to it, then there was this epiphany - we knew it had to be For Sama. Addressed to her.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “One of things I was concerned with was making sure that this film would work for a Syrian audience. I did a screening for some of those involved in the film, and it was the most terrifying screening I’ve done. Thankfully they were happy with it.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
#DUKSama pic.twitter.com/oI2QlbvBMA
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
A member asks Waad and Edward what their hopes are for the film going forward. #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “We are calling for urgent action on the situation in Syria, we are calling for a cease to the bombing of hospitals.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “We’re trying to show it far and wide, across the world. We have a screening coming up in parliament.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad: “We’re trying to show it far and wide, across the world. We have a screening coming up in parliament.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
Waad addresses the audience: “All of you have great experience and great skills, make sure you use them, there are so many stories that need to be told.” #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
And that’s a wrap! Thank you so much to @waadalkateab and @watts_edward for a fascinating Q&A, and a huge thank you to Tom Roberts for moderating. #DUKSama
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
.@ForSama film is an inspiring, heartbreaking, and powerful work - find a screening near you. #DUKSama https://t.co/7iku3x6I0V
— Directors UK (@Directors_UK) September 25, 2019
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