Experiencing Interruptions?

Know Your Freedom

As they pursue their sporting dreams, our three protagonists - all UAE sportswomen - have negotiated through a complex web of social taboos both overt and covert to compete on the international stage. A story of courage and grit while making extraordinary choices in a tradition-bound society

  • Supriya Srinivas
    Director
  • Ghalia Al Aqili
    Director
  • Supriya Srinivas
    Writer
  • Ghalia Al Aqili
    Writer
  • Supriya Srinivas
    Producer
  • Ghalia Al Aqili
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    اعرف حريتك
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 16 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 10, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    28,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Arab Emirates
  • Country of Filming:
    United Arab Emirates
  • Language:
    Arabic, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Supriya Srinivas, Ghalia Al Aqili

Ghalia Al Aqili:
One of the first six to graduate in 3D animation in the United Arab Emirates, she fell in love with directing after being appointed the class director for a 3D animation course.
Supriya Srinivas:
With 19 years in journalism in various publishing houses in Dubai, including Gulf News, Supriya wrote and co-produced the documentary “Two Strangers in Dubai” with Ghalia Al-Aqili as part of the Short Film Course at SAE Dubai.

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Director Statement

Ghalia Al Aqili:
“Know Your Freedom is a personal journey. It is about the correcting misconceptions of the so-called “outsiders” and it is about revealing the dynamic changes taking place among the women in my community. They don’t need a famous name or family to make a difference – Know your freedom is about the small changes being made by remarkable women from among my community. While the pride I feel for my community is unmistakable, I will not shy away from asking the tough questions and highlighting the real challenges faced by my compatriot women. “

Supriya Srinivas:
“For an expatriate in Dubai, the UAE woman is an enigma. With only brief encounters in government offices, the large majority of expatriates such as myself, have rarely interacted with UAE women. It was my good fortune to meet Ghalia at the short film course at SAE Dubai.

And in conversations with her, her family and friends, I confronted my own prejudices based mostly on popular myth and half-truths accumulated over two decades of living in the UAE.

Any commentary in the media lauds the achievers but very rarely gives the viewer a glimpse of the real journey. We hope to go beyond the superficial narrative with Know Your Freedom”