Doors open at 6pm.

6.30pm There will be live Persian music before the film by Delaram lzadi and Chris Hills

7pm For Sama screening followed by a Q & A with Edward Watts, who directed For Sama with Waad

Certificate 18 - scenes include violence in a war setting

The film is a love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.The film is the first feature documentary by Emmy award-winning filmmakers, Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts.

Edward Watts (Director)

Edward Watts is an Emmy award-winning, BAFTA nominated filmmaker who has directed over twenty narrative and documentary films that tell true stories of courage, heroism and humour from across the world, covering everything from war crimes in the Congo to the colourful lives of residents in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.

He completed his first feature documentary about the life of Waad al-Kateab a female Syrian filmmaker who recorded her life over 5 years in rebel-held Aleppo. It is an epic tale of love and courage amid the cruelty of war.

His 2015 film Escape from ISIS exposed the brutal treatment of the estimated 4 million women living under the rule of the Islamic State and, for the first time on television, told the extraordinary story of an underground network trying to save those it can. It received numerous international awards and citations, including an International Emmy and Bafta nomination for Best Current Affairs Documentary.

The Guardian described it as “a breathtakingly bold piece of journalism,” while the Spectator said it was “such an important documentary it ought to rank with the footage of British troops liberating Belsen.” Prime Minister David Cameron cited the film in a major policy speech on ISIS. Edward was also invited to testify at the US Congress about the film’s key findings at the Committee on Foreign Affairs in Washington DC in July 2015.

Among his other work, his first narrative short film Oksijan told the incredible true story of a 7- year-old Afghan boy’s fight to survive as he is smuggled to the UK in a refrigerated lorry and the air inside begins to run out. It premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2017 and has since played at prestigious film festivals around the world.

Edward's filmmaking aspires to tell visceral, gripping stories about people who live in far flung corners of the world, to emphasise our common humanity to audiences back home. In so doing, he hopes his films can make a positive contribution to reducing the hatred in our tumultuous world. He has an eye for the unexpected: the intimacy found even in the bleakest places; the stories of hope amid horror. He creates films on a strong foundation of riveting narrative storytelling and striking, cinematic images.

With thanks to Together Films, www.actionforsama.com and republicfilmdistribution.co.uk. For Sama was produced by Channel 4 News/ITN Productions for Channel 4 and Frontline PBS.

FAQs

Is there disabled access? Yes

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?Please be aware that the University has introduced a new parking permit system, including a new visitor parking booking system. More information about the new parking policy is available here. We would recommend the use of public transport whenever possible.

What can/can't I bring to the event?No food is allowed in the JHB Lecture Theatre

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