Doha Film Institute
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Mayar captures the lives of her Palestinian family, who made Doha their home 60 years ago. Led by her mother, Amal, who is approaching retirement, they once again grapple with the dilemma of moving or fighting to remain.
In this reflexive and creative documentary, Mayar (23) picks up the camera to capture the intricate lives of her Palestinian family, who have resided in Doha for over six decades. Against the backdrop of never-ending conflicts in their hometown, Gaza, the family’s Doha home reflects their turmoil, with the focal point being Mayar’s mother, Amal (61), whose grief is concealed beneath a veil of sarcasm. Amal navigates an enduring sense of displacement exacerbated by the loss of her father and residency sponsor, Mahmoud.
Simultaneously, as Mayar makes the United States her new home, Amal confronts the challenging task of determining the family's future place of residency. The end of her residency in Doha, marked by the arrival of the "retirement & end of service" letter, is fast approaching—a reality made more pressing amidst the global political turmoil in the family’s homeland. Alone, she faces the responsibility of deciding where to go and how to care for her elderly mother, Teta and her emotionally unstable sister, Wafaa. But, in the face of the current political climate, a haunting question persists: in a world seemingly devoid of refuge, where will this displaced family find a haven?

Credits

Director
Mayar Hamdan, Shaima Al Tamimi
Producer
Shaima Al Tamimi
Editor
Laith Majali

About the Director

Mayar Hamdan
A Palestinian multi-platform writer, director, and producer, Mayar Hamdan tells stories through an interdisciplinary lens, with a practice rooted in research, design, colourimetry, and culture. Whether in film, interactive media, video games, or design, her work explores SWANA-centred themes of migration, displacement, and feminism. Hamdan is the co-founder of Y2P Studios, a creative company dedic
Shaima Al Tamimi
Shaima Al-Tamimi, a Yemeni-East African visual storyteller based in Qatar, draws from her lived experiences to explore social issues related to migration, healing, and sociocultural dynamics. She was selected as a 2024 Emerging Producer by the Ji.hlava Film Festival and is currently a Firelight Media Fellow. Her latest short film, ‘Don’t Get Too Comfortable’ (2021), premiered at the Venice Interna