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Sadika's Garden

Sadika’s Garden is a moving and uplifting story of a group of Canadians, once refugees themselves, uniting to sponsor a Syrian refugee family of eight from war-torn Raqqa to Vancouver, completing the circle of generosity. Those who once received refuge now pay it forward to the vulnerable which leads to a miraculous dream coming true for Sadika’s daughter, Batoul.

  • Julia Iriarte
    Director
  • Chad Galloway
    Director
  • Justin Beddall
    Writer
  • Chad Galloway
    Writer
  • Chad Galloway
    Producer
  • Julia Iriarte
    Producer
  • Vince Arvidson
    Cinematography
  • Naim Sutherland
    Cinematography
  • Chad Galloway
    Cinematography
  • James Gill
    Cinematography
  • Chad Galloway
    Editor
  • Mark Lazeski
    Music
  • Jenn Strom
    Story Editors
  • Chad Galloway
    Story Editors
  • Mani Y. Benchelah
    Story Editors
  • Mike Hjorth
    Gaffers & Grip
  • Daniel Leon Pitts
    Gaffers & Grip
  • Earl Kjargaard
    Gaffers & Grip
  • Miguel Helu
    Gaffers & Grip
  • Paul Dombrovskis
    Gaffers & Grip
  • Mohamed Ali
    Location Sound
  • Isaiah Berra
    Set Decorator
  • Jenn Strom
    Animation
  • Ryan Schroeder
    Colour
  • Chad Galloway
    Visual Effects
  • Mohamed Ali
    Audio Edit & Mix
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Docudrama, Documentary, War
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 24 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    43,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Julia Iriarte, Chad Galloway

Chad Galloway is an award-winning director/editor based in Vancouver, Canada and for ten years has been the key creative behind Trail Films. Working primarily on personal films, commissioned assignments and marketing campaigns; Chad's true passion resides in documentary storytelling for social good.

Julia Iriarte went to film school at the (Fundacion Universidad del Cine) in Buenos Aires, Argentina and specialized in film direction. She soon began working in international feature films and commercials as an assistant director. After earning a Multimedia diploma at UBC, she worked as an assistant editor while she was also directing her own independent films. Based in Vancouver, she is currently producing and editing marketing videos for several companies and non - profit organizations.

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Director Statement

(By co-director Julia)
Our story talks about the importance of offering a safe haven for those fleeing wars and unrest. It is a story of humans helping humans no matter what culture or religion we belong.
As an inmigrant filmmaker, I can relate to the struggles that this family is going through as they must overcome not only the language barrier but the family they left behind, feelings of guilt, isolation and not belonging.
I’m also a member of Ajdeduna, a group of established immigrants who got together with the objective of sponsoring a Syrian family.
In 2017, co-director Chad Galloway and I produced a video entitled “Abuelo’s Pledge” that helped raise the necessary funds to sponsor Sadika’s parents and three young siblings to come to Canada.
Using the one-hour of footage shot to produce the fundraising video, I was also able to create the one-minute video pitch to obtain the grant that made possible the production of this film.
This is why we are deeply passionate about this story.