From Abdul to Leila

Followed by a film talk with director Leila Albayaty

In this intimate documentary, Leila Albayaty sings her story. She tells of her relationship to her father, to his native language, Arabic, and to her attempts at learning it by setting the poems he wrote for her to music. The film chronicles her journeys to Iraq, the home her father had fled, and to Cairo, the city where her sister lives. We also learn of her life in France and of her fleeing to Berlin after a traumatic accident from which she still carries scars. Albayaty weaves a musical that explores her intricate identity, her urge to understand her roots, her fight to overcome trauma, and her love for Arabic and song. (AF)

From Abdul to Leila won the best documentary award at the Arab Film Festival Rotterdam and the Annual Aarhus Film Festival in Denmark as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the Tetouan Mediterranean Film Festival.

Leila Albayaty is a French director, musician and visual artist of Iraqi origin. Self-taught, she writes, directs, plays and composes music for her films. She works between the West and the Middle East.

In cooperation with AFAC (Arab Fund for Arts and Culture).