Private Project

Just Another Memory

Amidst the ongoing war in Yemen; torn between being “safe” and “away”, weighed down by the ever-present mental and emotional baggage that still holds you back. How does one move forward and heal? How to deal with so much suppressed pain? In this profoundly affecting documentary, we investigate these questions and explore what it feels like to be suddenly uprooted and displaced by war.

  • Mariam Al-Dhubhani
    Director
  • Yassmine Hammoudi
    Producer
  • Mariam Al-Dhubhani
    Key Cast
  • Mohammed Al-Jaberi
    Key Cast
  • Akram Al-Dhubhani
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    مجرد ذكرى
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Humanitarian, Woman, children, war, drama
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 20, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Russian Federation
  • Country of Filming:
    Qatar, Russian Federation, Yemen
  • Language:
    Arabic, English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Ajyal Film Festival
    Doha
    Qatar
    December 1, 2018
    Local Premiere
    Best Documentary
  • American Documentary Film Festival
    California
    United States
    March 29, 2019
    International Premiere
  • Yemeni Cinema in Beirut
    Beirut
    Lebanon
    April 21, 2019
Director Biography - Mariam Al-Dhubhani

Mariam Al-Dhubhani is an award-winning Yemeni-Russian journalist, filmmaker, curator, and educator based in the SWANA region. A 3x TEDx speaker and pioneer in using virtual reality to tell stories from Yemen, she creates work that amplifies marginalized voices and challenges mainstream narratives. Her films have received multiple accolades, including the Most Promising Filmmaker award at the Toronto Arab Film Festival (2019) for In The Middle. She was honored as a Rising Star at the inaugural QF Alumni Awards by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and named a CineGouna Rising Star at the El Gouna Film Festival, establishing her as a leading voice in Arab and African cinema.
Al-Dhubhani holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Strategic Communication from Northwestern University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Museum and Gallery Practice from University College London. She has mentored young storytellers in conflict zones, served on juries for international film grants and festivals, and collaborated with UN agencies to train journalists in immersive storytelling. Her work blends human stories with innovative cinematic approaches to explore resilience, identity, and the unseen lives of her communities. She is currently completing her feature debut, showcased at prestigious festivals including Cannes, IDFA, and Venice.

مريم الذبحاني صحفية ومخرجة أفلام وقيّمة فنية ومعلمة يمنية-روسية حائزة على عدة جوائز، تعمل في منطقة جنوب غرب آسيا وشمال أفريقيا. متحدثة TEDx ثلاث مرات ورائدة في استخدام الواقع الافتراضي لتسليط الضوء على قصص من اليمن. تسعى من خلال أعمالها لتحدي الصور النمطية السائدة وتعزيز المساواة والإنسانية.
حازت أفلامها على عدة جوائز، منها جائزة أفضل مخرجة واعدة في مهرجان تورونتو العربي للأفلام القصيرة عن فيلم "في المنتصف"، وتم تكريمها كـ"نجمة صاعدة" في حفل جوائز خريجي مؤسسة قطر الأول برعاية سمو الشيخة موزا بنت ناصر، وأيضًا كـ"نجمة صاعدة" في مهرجان الجونة السينمائي، مما يعكس مكانتها كصوت بارز في السينما العربية والإفريقية.
حاصلة على بكالوريوس في الصحافة والاتصال الاستراتيجي من Northwestern University ودبلوم دراسات عليا في ممارسة المتاحف والمعارض من University College London. قدّمت الإرشاد والتدريب لدعم صانعي الأفلام الشباب في مناطق النزاع، وعملت كعضو في لجان تحكيم للمنح والمهرجانات الدولية، وتعاونت مع وكالات الأمم المتحدة لتدريب الصحفيين وصانعي الأفلام على السرد القصصي باستخدام الواقع الافتراضي.
تعمل حاليًا على فيلمها الروائي الطويل الأول، الذي حظي بالاهتمام في مهرجانات وأسواق سينمائية مرموقة مثل Cannes وIDFA وVenice، وتواصل من خلال أعمالها بناء صوت سينمائي فريد يعكس الصمود والهوية والقصص غير المرئية لمجتمعاتها.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The motivation to make this documentary for me was to heal. Until last summer, I was away from home and haven't been able to see my family in almost three years. I was fortunate enough to leave Yemen at the peak of the current war in 2015, but being away and safe didn't solve my problems. "Just Another Memory" turned from a learning process into a healing one when I decided to explore the emotional and psychological effects the war had on me even while being away. I felt like I was stuck and needed to process the burden I am carrying around to be able to move forward, and I believe that I managed to start at least fragmenting the mountain accumulated over the past few years.