Sharjah24: The Neighbourhood Storyteller, The Big Heart Foundation’s debut documentary, and a multi-award-winning documentary that portrays the heartwarming and inspiring story of Syrian refugee, Asmaa, and her determination to raise a conscious generation of successful women, received a rousing reception at its Green Carpet screening yesterday evening at the 9th Sharjah International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFF).
The film chronicles the story of Asmaa, who redirects her pain and trauma into transforming the lives of young girls at the Al Zaatari Camp in Jordan. Embarking on a read-aloud project, the young mother-of-four kindles hope in the minds of young girls in the refugee camp and empowers them to rebuild their lives.
In a discussion with the SIFF audience following the Green Carpet screening, Spanish director Alejandra Alcala said: “Films like The Neighbourhood Storyteller help break barriers and misconceptions about refugees. By shining a light on the refugee experience through a positive lens, our goal is to light up the fire to enable more girls and women to to look within themselves and recognise their resilience and capacities to overcome adversities.”
The young director added: “I was drawn to the story of Asmaa because I believe in the power of storytelling to impact change. I hope the movie will enable girls and women to draw strength from Asmaa’s fortitude and perseverance, and subsequently be inspired to take action.”
Ahead of the screening, the Spanish director shared a special message for the SIFF audience from Asmaa, who is currently resettling in France after 10 years of being a refugee at Al Zaatari: “Watch the movie not with your eyes but with your heart; and continue to fight to achieve your goals - do not give in to life’s challenges.”
Describing Asmaa’s story as an example of the changemaking impact that comes when individuals are empowered even with simple skill sets, Alya Al Musaibi, Head of Communications at TBHF, thanked the entity’s Jordanian partner, We Love Reading, for their project that spurred the Syrian refugee’s transformational journey.
Thanking the filmmaker “for humanising the refugee experience” by bringing Asmaa’s story to life, Alya Al Musaib said that TBHF’s support for the film stemmed from its “commitment to drive a change in people’s existing perception of refugees, and to inspire others to see them not as a community defined by a number but as individuals with aspirations and talents.”
Alya Al Musaib added: “What makes Asmaa’s story more inspiring is that in her journey of self-growth, she chose not to walk alone but to lift up the lives of many more out of their painful conditions.”
The Neighbourhood Storyteller is the recipient of several international awards and was previously screened at film festivals in the USA, Mexico, Greece, Holland, Canada, Finland, Morocco, Germany, and Denmark.
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