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Dear Bilad Al-Sham,

An intimate love letter voiced by diaspora, representative of all peoples. Dear Bilad Al-Sham, is the direct reassurance to a crumbling Arab world, referring to the land as if a person, that the next generation outside the motherland are still fighting for her, exploring this struggle as one sweetening with distance rather deteriorating. With the belief that hope drives the people past any geographical disconnect, this short film builds on a promised hope possessed by all displaced people.

  • Sarah Salahi
    Director
  • Sarah Salahi
    Writer
  • Sarah Salahi
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Student
  • Genres:
    DocumentaryExperimental
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 5, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    0 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    Arabic, English
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Shirley High School
Director Biography - Sarah Salahi

Sarah Salahi is an 18 year old filmmaker currently studying at Kingston School of Art. Her work is inspired by and dedicated to her Syrian heritage which she credits for working as a nurturing force. Being British- Syrian, the subject of her storytelling involves the intimate concept of diaspora, internal conflict and reconstructing the media's Western-imposed view on the Middle East.
Salahi's aspiring career has seen her panel at Leeds Palestine Film Festival 2024, screening a short documentary made with the BFI. As of today she's working with Generation Palestine.

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Director Statement

I feel forever in debt to the rich culture and history that runs through the levant and aim to showcase that to the world. The universally understood platform of film allows me to justify a love I've always felt towards my misunderstood heritage. I've grown with a conflicted relationship with Syria, garnering bad reactions when I say I'm from there and not understanding why as a child. I've always wanted to tell the world what I see when I speak of Syria. The film came about naturally in the sense that it was to be a love letter, I have always spoke of Syria as if a human with emotions, memories, pain, love.