Private Project

In The Middle

Logline: Forced to pick up arms, Ali, is stuck in between his crushed dreams and the harsh reality in the city of Aden as a product of the ongoing war in Yemen.
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Synopsis: The current war in Yemen is one of the most underreported conflicts. As the Middle East region is going through unstable developments, the Yemeni narrative gets lost in the clutter. A majority of the stories that manage to come out from Yemen are all of famine, cholera, destruction, and despair. None of which are told by Yemenis. It is usually a parachuting reporter who briefs the world in, like a news strap that passes through television screens; momentary and not very impactful. Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, is currently under the control of the Houthi rebels. They seized control of the government in 2014 and are ruling the majority of Yemen’s Northern parts. In 2015, the religious-political-armed movement also known as ‘Ansar Allah’ attacked the South to expand their dominance. Their expansion to the South resulted in blood and destruction. That is when the Saudi-led coalition came into the picture. It did push back the Houthis into the North. The aftermath of the Aden battle resulted in a tentative recovery in the South. Yet, the livelihood remains in a desperate need for improvement. For many in Aden, joining the military was the reliable option to secure a source of living.

  • Ali Mustafa
    Key Cast
    "himself"
  • Mariam Al-Dhubhani
    Director
  • Mohammed Al-Jaberi
    Producer
  • Noor Abunabaa
    Producer
  • Mohammed Al-Jaberi
    Camera
  • Amit Chowdhury
    Editor
  • Nur Munawarah
    Editor
  • Falah Hannoun
    Sound
  • Mariam Al-Dhubhani
    Sound
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    في المنتصف
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 30, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    Qatar
  • Country of Filming:
    Qatar, Russian Federation, Yemen
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Northwestern University in Qatar
  • Ajyal Film Festival
    Doha
    Qatar
    November 25, 2019
    Best Documentary Award
Director Biography - Mariam Al-Dhubhani

Mariam Al-Dhubhani is an award-winning Yemeni-Russian journalist, filmmaker, curator, and educator based in the MENA region. Her passion for media began during the 2011 Arab uprisings, where she co-founded her first media production. As a two-time TEDx speaker and a pioneer in using virtual reality to highlight stories from Yemen, Al-Dhubhani strives to counter the stereotyping of the region in mainstream media and promote equality in humanity. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Strategic Communication from Northwestern University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Museum and Gallery Practice from University College London. Her films have received numerous accolades, including the Most Promising Filmmaker award at the Toronto Arab Film Festival in 2019 for her film, In The Middle. Al-Dhubhani has provided mentorship and training to support young filmmakers in conflict areas, including Yemen, Libya, and Iraq. She has also served as a jury member for film grants and festivals in the US, Canada, and Yemen. In addition, she has collaborated with several UN agencies to produce and train young journalists on immersive reality in storytelling. Currently, Mariam is working on her feature debut, Let's Play Soldiers, highlighted at prestigious film festivals and markets such as Cannes, IDFA, and HotDocs.
مريم الذبحاني صحفية ومخرجة أفلام وقيّمة فنية ومعلمة يمنية - روسية حائزة على عدة جوائز. بدأ شغفها بالإعلام خلال الانتفاضات العربية عام ٢٠١١، حيث شاركت في تأسيس أول شركة إنتاج إعلامي لها. متحدثة TEDx لمرتين وأحد المخرجين الأوائل الذين استخدموا الواقع الافتراضي والتصوير بتقنية ٣٦٠ درجة في اليمن. من خلال أعمالها، تسلط الضوء على مخاطر التصوير النمطي للمنطقة وتحاول تقديم صورة مضادة لتعزيز المساواة في الإنسانية. حاصلة على درجة البكالوريوس في الصحافة والاتصال الاستراتيجي من Northwestern University ودبلوم دراسات عليا في تطبيقات المتاحف والمعارض من University College London. نالت أفلامها العديد من الجوائز، بما في ذلك جائزة "أفضل مخرج واعد" في مهرجان تورونتو السينمائي العربي عام ٢٠١٩ عن فيلمها "في المنتصف". قدمت الذبحاني الإرشاد والتدريب لدعم صانعي الأفلام الشباب في مناطق النزاع، بما في ذلك اليمن وليبيا والعراق. عملت أيضًا كعضو في لجنة تحكيم منح الأفلام والمهرجانات في الولايات المتحدة وكندا واليمن. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، تعاونت مع العديد من وكالات الأمم المتحدة لإنتاج وتدريب الصحفيين وصانعي الأفلام الشباب على التصوير بتقنية ٣٦٠ درجة والواقع الإفتراضي. تعمل حاليًا على فيلمها الطويل الأول بعنوان "يلا نلعب عسكرة،" الذي تم تسليط الضوء عليه في عدة مهرجانات وأسواق سينمائية مرموقة مثل Cannes و IDFA و HotDocs.

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Director Statement

The current war in Yemen is one of the most underreported conflicts. As the Middle East region is going through many unstable developments, the Yemeni narrative gets lost in the clutter. A majority of the stories that manage to come out from Yemen are all of famine, cholera, destruction, and despair. None of which are told by Yemenis. It is usually a parachuting reporter who briefs the world in, like a news strap that passes through television screens; momentary and not very impactful. Documenting stories from Yemen by Yemenis is crucial at this time. My husband, Mohammed Al-Jaberi, and I are equipped to provide Ali with a platform and tell his story with him. Ali represents a vast majority of youth who are unable to just 'live,' but instead, they need to continually struggle to survive.