THE FORGOTTEN CIVILISATION
Two Iraqi Filmmakers

Although it is the birthplace of civilisation, Iraq’s modern history is full of destruction and violence, yet hope seems to prevail. Iraqi stories mirror this narrative. This screening will bring together two contrasting Iraqi filmmakers each focusing on manifestations of state sponsored violence but from very different perspectives.

Screening followed by a Q&A with the film directors

Films in this Programme

Tales of the Wounded Land
Dir: Abbas Fadhel, 120 mins

An intimate chronicle of the war that devastated southern Lebanon for a year and a half, this film captures the everyday lives of those caught in the storm. Through the voices of family, friends, and neighbours, it bears witness to loss, displacement, and the fragile efforts to heal, rebuild, and preserve dignity in the aftermath of destruction.

Sahar
Dir: Kuhel Khalid, 9 mins

Ali, a political activist in a state that forbids independent thought, is imprisoned in a secret detention centre run by government agents. When the regime seeks to break him, they bring his wife Sahar into the same cell. Amid oppression, the couple creates tender moments that reveal the resilience of an entire people.