Supporting cultural movement in Syria, Ahfad Ishtar Foundation screens two films by director Almohannad Kalthoum

With the aim of supporting cultural movement in Syria and encouraging film-making, the Cinema Club at the Ahfad Ishtar Foundation recently held a cultural event that included the screening of two short films by Syrian director Almohannad Kalthoum at Al-Kindi Cinema in Damascus, as part of the Club’s monthly activities.

The films are (Nahri Bahri), whose script was written by Samer Mohammed Ismail, and (Photograph), whose script was written by Buthaina Naeesa.

Following the screening of the films, a dialogue was held in the presence of Almohannad Kalthoum, the director of the films, a number of filmmakers and Dr. Ayser Midani, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Ahfad Ishtar Foundation.

Kalthoum told “Syria Times” that the audience and the filmmakers gathered in this event to discuss the intellectual and cultural situation in Syria.

“The dialogue, that was held, included different opinions on various ideas and topics and the screened films are completely Syrian made. They are of interest to the Syrian people in the light of the harsh war that the Syrian people have been going through,” the director said.

He added: “the films depict our daily life. We tried to document some details of the life of people in Syria through these two films; “Nahri Bahri” and “Photograph”.

“The aim of screening these films and holding the dialogue was to document memory and time and to explain what happened in our country and how we have been able, with the will of the Syrians, to overcome the crisis,” Kalthoum pointed out.

“These films are documents for future generations, for our children and grandchildren, so that they can see what happened in their country and how the will of the Syrians triumphed, because the Syrians are the sons of life, and they deserve a better life despite all the challenges,” he clarified.

In her turn, Dr. Ayser Midani said that “in general, the cinema club is about films. After screening the two films, we have a dialogue session to criticize, to exchange our ideas and to discuss problems”.

“There is an actual discussion among people about the issues raised in the films. I mean, every film has a certain value that stems from our reality, from our suffering, and through this suffering, we look forward to great and successful works, not only in Syria but in the entire world”, Dr. Midani added.

“The main goal of these dialogue sessions is to regain our position by ourselves, our creativity, our capabilities and our energies and to build and develop our lives despite the difficult conditions, because the Syrian person is a creative and rich person in terms of culture, history and authenticity,” she pointed out.

She also said “the goal of the cinema club is to help us repossess all our capabilities, history, and culture, and restore our confidence in ourselves, because the basis of construction and success is self-confidence”.

It is worthy to mention that the film screenings of the cinema club of the Ahfad Ishtar Foundation continue at Al-Kindi Cinema in Damascus at a rate of one screening per month, and the goal is to support the counrry’s artistic movement.

Report and photos by : Nada Haj Khidr