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Annie Sakkab’s THE POEM WE SANG continues its global journey with new screenings across Europe
Annie Sakkab’s THE POEM WE SANG continues its global journey with new screenings across Europe
Following a remarkable international run, the award-winning documentary short THE POEM WE SANG is set to captivate audiences once again as it embarks on a new tour with screenings scheduled across Europe throughout March and April.After its successful run at prestigious festivals worldwide, THE POEM WE SANG will be featured in the International Short Film Week Regensburg in Germany, competing in its Family Ties International Competition. This category delves into the complexities of family relationships, examining themes of personal freedom, cultural expectations, and the weight of tradition.
The film will also screen on March 22nd at Andreasstadel, March 23rd at W1 - Theatersaal, March 7th at the Spello International Short Film Festival, and March 23rd at the Internationale Kurzfilmwoche Regensburg.
Additionally, it will be showcased at the Arab Film Festival Zurich on April 2nd, San Diego Arab Film Festival on April 4th, and Sundar Prize Film Festival on April 10th.
In THE POEM WE SANG, Palestinian director Annie Sakkab ruminates on the generational trauma caused by the loss of a family home and forced migration. Through this deeply personal documentary, Sakkab transforms a lifetime of regret into a healing journey of creative catharsis and testimony. The film centers around Khalil Al-Sakakini’s ‘WE ARE A PROUD NATION,’ a poem that the poet and teacher sang to his students at An-Nahda College in Jerusalem prior to Al Nakba and occupation.
Aside from WE ARE A PROUD NATION — a song beloved by older generations of Palestinians — Al-Sakakini also wrote the ‘Anthem of the Arab Revolution.’
This poem and song are not only a historical testimony but are also a tribute to the pioneering role played by the Palestinians before the Nakba. Khalil Al-Sakakini was the founder of the Arabic curriculum in the Arab World, and perhaps remembering his genius in the poem sung in the film is some overdue tribute.
For Sakkab, the film is more than just a documentary; it’s a tribute to her family, her Palestinian identity, and the memories that shape both. “Only when I grew older did I realize how important this poem was for them and how powerful it is,” she reflects.
THE POEM WE SANG first premiered at the Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival in Canada before making its way to over ten global festivals, including the Vancouver Short Film Festival, Norwegian Short Film Festival, Toronto Arab Film Festival, and Doc Edge Film Festival. The film has garnered critical acclaim, winning the Special Jury Award at the Herceg Novi Film Festival in Montenegro and Best Experimental Short at the Nazra Palestinian Short Film Festival.
Produced and co-written by Annie Sakkab and Paul Lee in collaboration with B707 Productions, THE POEM WE SANG is a testament to resilience and remembrance. Directed, shot, edited, and narrated by Sakkab herself, with Celina and Hanna Sakkab starring, the film is a deeply personal act of artistic expression. MAD Distribution manages the film’s sales and distribution in the MENA region, while the National Film Board of Canada oversees its Canadian distribution.
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