Waad al-Kateab & Edward Watts in conversation with Human Rights Watch

Closely following the US release of For Sama on PBS Frontline in mid-November, Human Rights Watch Film Festival hosed a Twitter Q&A with For Sama filmmakers Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts. In this interview, HRW find out just how important it was for the filmmakers to share this footage to the world. Read their conversation here: 

HRW: Waad and Edward - For Sama is an intimate look at life in the midst of the war in #Syria. How did you decide you wanted to make a film and tell your story?

WAK: 

I never thought of doing a film about Syria while filming there for 5 years. I was just trying to capture all the details of life – big things in the city, my personal life and the hospital with many other families I followed over the years. 

I was sure I would be killed at any moment so I never thought of a plan for what comes next or the future. Then when I was forced to flee in 2016 at the beginning I was so disappointed and emotional about what happened with us that I thought I’d never work in media again. But I then felt “No”, I need to do that. I need to take responsibility and stand again to do the film to raise awareness about what is happening. I want to share my story in the best way. And doing For Sama was that way. 

Me & Edward worked for 2 years until the film was ready. We were trying to find a way to tell the story. We had huge archives of footage and didn’t know where to start. But we were sure that this film was so important, not just for Syrians but for all over the world.

EW:

Ever since the revolution in Syria I’ve wanted to make films about people like Waad & Hamza – the peaceful protestors who went out on the streets to fight for the basic rights that we take for granted in the West. When I was introduced to Waad I saw it as a chance to tell the truth of the story of the Syrian revolution, without the distraction of the terrorism narrative, something I’d wanted to do for so long. That truth is what you see through Waad’s life.

HRW: And, Waad - when did you first pick up a camera and start filming what was happening around you in Syria?

WAK:

The first time I picked up a camera, it wasn’t a proper camera - it was my phone. It was 2011, when the Syrian revolution started. I was studying at Aleppo University and I joined the protest and just started filming what was happening. It was so important for us to record that period of time, especially because the regime was denying everything that was happening. I’ve captured every record, every voice, every picture and every video because it is very important to prove what was happening inside Syria. 

HRW: For Sama is so raw, it doesn’t hold back in showing the reality on the ground. Why did you decide to take this approach and what did you feel your responsibility was in showing what was happening in Syria? 

WAK: 

Sadly the story of Syria is like what you’ve seen. It’s a lot of dead people, a lot of destruction and this is what we can’t ignore. I wish I could fake some of the story but this is the truth of our experience. We were living a life where it could be ended at any second.

EW: 

Throughout the Syrian revolution, people in the West had been shielded from the brutal reality of what Assad & his Russian allies were doing to civilians. Waad & I were determined we weren’t going to shield people from the truth. 

Because if you don’t show the people the truth, then they’re not in a position to make a judgement. It’s only when you see the crimes that have been committed to civilians - children - that you understand. It was so important that we showed this reality in the film.

WAK: 

Yes - we had to show the targeted attacks of the Assad regime and Russia on life there. As an activist, mother and filmmaker, I hope we focus on this fight for the rest of our life.

HRW: For Sama has been such a huge success and has been screening around the world. How does it feel to have to continue to tour with the film and talk about such a difficult time in your life, Waad?

WAK: 

Actually, it’s so important to do this, as much as it’s hard and it’s so emotional to me, it’s so important. Unfortunately we are not speaking about a story that happened and finished three years ago, we are still speaking about the same bad circumstances. More than 3 million people who live in Idlib now are facing the same tragedy and the same bad circumstances. 

Idlb is the last area out of the regime control and there are mothers and families and people who are living under threat to be killed or to be displaced from their homes at any second. Whatever my feelings now, whatever my situation about what’s happening when I’m speaking about the film, this is not equal to anything of what these people are suffering every day. 

At least now, my daughter is safe and I’m safe. I’m the witness who was alive and went out and now I need to shed light about others, the people that are still suffering the same circumstances.

HRW: For Sama is understandably critical of the intl. community’s response - what can viewers do to make a difference?

WAK:

We are so proud that we shared the story with the film, so people can really connect to what’s happening right now in Syria. But we believe the film itself is not enough. We need people to be with us in this, we need the help of people all over the world. That is why we launched our impact campaign, it’s called Action For Sama. 

People can go to www.actionforsama.com and find a lot of tools to be part of the change. There are lots of things people can do -  maybe it seems like small things, but all this together will be so important and lead to a big action. 

The main message we have with Action For Sama is #stopbombinghospitals, because this is still happening every day. It happened with us three years ago as people see in the film, but the news shows it is still happening, every day. Just yesterday. 

EW:

One of the most important things is for people to stay engaged and not give up. Like Waad says, small actions add up, so every time you take 5 minutes out of your day even just to express solidarity with people in Syria, it makes a huge difference. 

The reason why the Russians and the Assad regime commit a lot of these crimes is because they think they’re happening in the shadows, they think no one cares and no one is watching. 

So every time that you share the news, tell your friends what’s happening in Syria or put a tweet out, you’re telling the people in power that you do care, that the world is watching. And that just might make them think twice that one day justice will catch up with them. So you’re part of the fight and you can help make a difference. 

WAK:

And please, follow @ActionForSama on social media and see the website and keep in touch always. Thank you so much to everyone!

***

Action for Sama is in an independent campaign by the filmmakers of For Sama, which aims to end the targeting of healthcare facilities in Syria. To find out more and learn how you can take action, visit actionforsama.com. 

Watch For Sama on Channel 4 (UK) and PBS Frontline (US)