In this episode, which is a recorded conversation of a discussion held at the Dazed Live event, London, in October 2021, we discuss the rising power of collectives and how they can provide structure for those working on the margins and outside institutional frameworks. We are delighted to welcome special guests Bolanle Tajudeen of Black Blossoms and Christie Costello of Bare Minimum Collective. Moderator: Róisín Tapponi. Donate! Please consider donating towards our work:...

Habibi Collective members Reman Sadani and Isra Al Kassi speak to Rehana Zaman and Sylvia Hong on how to fund and sustain moving image projects, at the Dazed Live event, London, in October 2021. In this episode, we explore questions like: how do you sustain your practice without heavily relying on external funding? How do you benefit from the commercial scene to develop commissions? How can you challenge existing models of funding and commissioning? Extra resources: Art Council England...

A conversation with Tara Violet Niami, a British Australian-Iranian American cinematographer and photographer based in Los Angeles. As a DOP she has worked in narrative film, documentary, music video, and fashion film mediums. Later this summer, her first feature film as cinematographer, Eye Without A Face made in collaboration with her independent filmmaker father Ramin Niami, will be released. In this episode, we talk about Tara's journey from photography to the moving image, perseverance,...

A conversation with Los Angeles based singer and sex educator Rotana about her new educational comedy show, F*D & Blessed. Ahead of the show's release in July, this episode is an exclusive preview into the show which explores sexuality, self-pleasure and more from a curious Saudi girl. Please consider donating towards our work: Patreon.com/habibicollective.  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/roisin-tapponi/support

A conversation with Iranian photographer, music-video and film director Zhamak Fullad. Zhamak has been mainly working in Canada and Los Angeles. We discuss how she got into the profession, the obstacles she has been facing as a brown woman in the West, and more. Donate! Please consider donating towards our work: Patreon.com/habibicollective. A small monthly donation goes a long way towards paying innumerable costs including: screening fees for filmmakers, MGs, design assets and the endless...

A conversation with Reman Sadani, London-based Iraqi artist and a graduate of the Slade School of Fine Art. In this episode, we deconstruct the meaning of moving-image and discuss the importance of community, navigating the industry after art school, and telling stories throughout varying spaces and mediums.  Speaker bio: Reman is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on film and moving image. Her narratives are often driven by a search for an exit. The physical toll of this constant search...

A conversation with Jannis Stürtz, DJ and co-founder of Habibi Funk Records and Jakarta Records. In this episode, we discuss the modus operandi of Habibi Funk, the importance of digitizalisation of records and cassettes, film-score composer Ahmed Malek in post-colonial Algeria, women in music and film, and more.  Donate! Please consider donating towards our work: Patreon.com/habibicollective. A small monthly donation goes a long way towards paying innumerable costs including: screening fees...

A conversation with Elhum Shakerifar, BAFTA nominated producer and curator, producing and distributing documentaries through her company Hakawati. In this episode, we discuss the importance of storytelling through documentary film, finding truth and creating a space of reality, raising important questions to audiences, and the future of filmmaking amidst the current climate.  Speaker bio: Elhum is a BAFTA nominated producer and curator, producing and distributing documentaries through her...

A conversation with Pam Nasr, New York-based Lebanese filmmaker, stylist and art director. In this episode, we discuss the importance of narrative in fashion commercials, what it means to be both in front of and behind the camera, the stress of self-branding, the problem with concept-led projects, the precarious state of the gig economy and the cultural importance of Sex & The City.  Speaker bio: Born and raised in Dubai, Pam moved to Beirut after graduating from London College of Fashion...

A conversation with Annemarie Jacir, co-founder of Philistine Films, writer and director. In this episode, we discuss running an independent production company, the importance of fostering a collaborative environment, supporting new voices and thought-provoking storytelling.  Speaker bio: Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir has written, directed and produced over sixteen films. One of Filmmaker's 25 New Faces of Independent Cinema and Variety's "Arab New Wave", two of her films have...

A conversation with Hisham Fageeh, Saudi actor, writer, producer, and comedian. In this episode, we discuss comedy as a tool for activism, its shelf-life, Hisham's experience with cinema in Saudi, the gaps between cultures, capitalism, and more.  Speaker bio: Hisham Fageeh is a full-fledged artist who has co-produced and starred in the 2016 film "Barakah meets Barakah." He was previously Head of Content at Telfaz11. Hisham originally gained popularity doing YouTube videos - including "No...

A conversation with Butheina Kazim, co-founder of the UAE's arthouse cinema, Cinema Akil. We talk programming, navigating the online and offline market, and constructing a spatial politics for cinema, independently.  Speaker bio: Butheina Kazim is the co-founder of Cinema Akil, an independent cinema in Dubai. She has been involved in programming a number of cinema pop-ups, including Focus on the United Arab Emirates, and is the producer of the short documentary film Letters to Palestine,...

A conversation with Iraqi feature-length film editor Shahnaz Dulaimy about the many layers of editing. We discuss storytelling, sound, pacing, gender, and more. Speaker bio: Shahnaz Dulaimy is a feature film editor who started her career in the Arab film industry working on Annemarie Jacir’s When I Saw You (2012), Naji Abu Nowar’s Oscar nominated Theeb (2014), and Shahad Ameen's Oscar selected Scales (2019). She studied filmmaking in Rome, and delved into extensive research of film editing...

An honest conversation about the Hollywood creative industry with actress Alia Shawkat. We talk about how to self-represent as a queer Arab woman in Hollywood, biracial ‘passing’ and Western privilege and breaking through the role of the ‘ethnic best friend’.    Speaker bio:  Alia Shawkat is an Irish-Iraqi actress, scriptwriter and artist working in Hollywood. She has appeared in over 45 TV shows and movies, she is known for her TV roles as Hannah Rayburn in State of Grace, Maeby Fünke in...

An introduction to the podcast series, outlining various roles in the industry and the material, political and economic conditions that ground our current understanding of regional cinema as an institution. The podcast is free, but please consider subscribing to our Patreon on our website habibicollective.com Habibi Collective operates completely on a volunteer-led basis. This is not a sustainable model - but it is also vital that we stay independent. If you have enjoyed Habibi Collective...