Mariam
Spring Grant 2013 - Production Stage
Faiza Ambah / Short Narrative / France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia / 2014 / 44 min / Colour / Original Language: French / Interests: Women, Drama, Religion, Social Issues, Dramedy, Youth, Immigration
Synopsis
Ever since she attended the Hajj with her grandmother, Mariam has covered her head, but when France passes a law that bans Muslim women from wearing veils in public institutions, she finds her life in a Parisian suburb has suddenly become very complicated. Faced with expulsion and her father’s disapproval if she refuses to take off her headscarf to attend high school, but determined to stick to her guns, the resolute young woman finds solace in the power of protest.
Credits
- Director
- Faiza Ambah
- Screenwriter
- Faiza Ambah
- Producer
- Jérôme Bleitrach
- Production Company
- Bizibi, Silvergrey, Faizalberry Films
About the Director
Faiza Ambah is a Saudi filmmaker with a background in journalism. She was Gulf Correspondent for ‘The Washington Post’ before leaving in 2009 to focus on filmmaking. Her scripts have been supported by the Sundance Institute through the Rawi Screenwriter’s Lab in Jordan, the Dubai International Film Festival and the Doha Film Institute. She was a jury member at the Gulf Film Festival in Dubai in 2013 and organised a festival of Gulf Films at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, France the same year. She is currently in post-production for her medium-length film, ‘Mariam’, which was shot in France. Ambah has a feature-film writing certificate from UCLA extension and has taken directing courses at the Cinematic Arts School at the University of Southern California and the New York Film Academy.
Awards and Festival History
Awards
Special Jury Prize, Dubai International Film Festival 2015 (WP)
Bader Prize: Best Short Film, Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2016