“For Sama” Documents Plight of Wartime Mothers in Syria

Over the course of five years, student-revolutionary turned journalist Waad al-Kateab documents the birth of her daughter amidst the siege of Aleppo in a film about life, family and motherhood under the Syrian civil war

The Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival announced that “For Sama” will be the latest documentary in its “Faces of Home” series starting April 10. The recipient of numerous international awards, it is based on the remarkable videos made by Syrian journalist, Waad Al-Kateab. The film documents her journey as she volunteers at one of the few remaining hospitals, meets and marries one of the doctors and gives birth to their first daughter, Sama, all in the face of repeated bombings and fighting on the ground. The film is cast as a letter to Sama when she is older, intended to explain why her parents chose to remain so long in their home city as the violence and civilian deaths kept mounting around them. In a passing comment about her wedding night, the filmmaker’s hopes for the film are voiced, “The sound of our songs were louder than the bombs outside.”

Ian Freer of “Empire” wrote in a review, “‘For Sama’ powerfully mixes the personal and the political to thought-provoking, emotional ends. The result is one of the best documentaries of 2019.” 

The film’s reception has been explosive, winning over thirty awards and an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. It was awarded the Prix L'Œil d'or for best documentary at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival following a six-minute standing ovation. “For Sama” also became the British Academy Film Awards’ most nominated documentary of all time, winning Best Documentary. Director Al-Kateab has been an important journalist in documenting the realities of civilian life under the Syrian war. She won an International Emmy for her coverage of the Battle of Aleppo. Time Magazine included her in their list of “100 Most Influential People in 2020.”

“As she says herself, ‘To try and live a normal life in this place is to stand against the regime,” remarks Jolanta Lion, director of the CMU International Film Festival and assistant director of CMU’s Humanities Center in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “Living for years where your life can end in a minute, Al-Kateab’s refusal to put her life on hold is inspiring.”

The CMU film festival continues to screen films by some of the best-known directors working in the global market, all of whom have decades-long, prize-winning careers, including Ken Loach, Xiaoshuai Wang, Jan Komasa, Jeremiah Mosese and Waad Al-Kateab with “For Sama.”

Viewing for “For Sama” will be from April 10 to 16 with registration starting on April 8th. The first 30 people to register with the promo code “CMUIFF” will be able to watch for free. Tickets afterwards will be $5. There will be a free live discussion on April 15 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern but will require registration. 

Purchase tickets and register for the live discussion.

This event is presented in conjunction with FEMME and supported by the Humanities Scholars Program along with CMU's Graduate Student Assembly.

Visit CMU IFF for additional information and imagery.

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 Short Film Festival

The CMU International Film Festival’s Short Film Competition (SFC) is an annual competition that aims to gather cinematic perspectives from around the world on a current social issue or idea. The SFC invites and encourages independent local filmmakers to submit a short film of their making that presents a unique vision, creates poignant conversation and passionately and creatively captures the festival’s FACES OF HOME theme. Read more about the SFC.

About CMU IFF

The Carnegie Mellon International “Faces” Film Festival was created in 2006 and is a project of the Humanities Center at CMU. The festival prides itself on being the only international film festival organized and run by university students from across Pittsburgh. Films focus on current and global social issues that create meaningful dialogue throughout the broader Pittsburgh community.