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 a Yemeni-Russian award-winning journalist, filmmaker, curator, and educator based in the MENA region. She first pursued her passion for media during the 2011 Arab uprisings and co-founded her first media production. She is a two-time TEDx speaker and one of the first directors to utilize virtual reality to highlight stories from Yemen. Al-Dhubhani holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Strategic Communication from Northwestern University, 2019, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Museum and Gallery Practice from University College London, 2020. In addition to grossing several awards for her films, she was awarded Most Promising Filmmaker at the Toronto Arab Film festival in 2019 for her film, In The Middle. Through her work, Mariam attempts to shed light on the dangers of stereotyping the region in the mainstream media and provides a counterviewpoint to showcase equality in humanity. Her feature depute, Let's Play Soldiers, is a part of the Close Up Initiative. Al-Dhubhani has provided mentorship and training to support young filmmakers in conflict areas, including Yemen and Libya. She also served as a jury member for film grants and festivals in the US, Canada, and Yemen. Additionally, she collaborated with several UN agencies to produce and train young journalists on immersive reality in storytelling. Currently, she serves as a consultant on a Hollywood production film on Yemen.

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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.