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Maher Abi Samra

Director
Maher Abi Samra is a Lebanese director known for his insightful documentaries that focus on social and political issues in the Middle East. Some of his notable works include "Tadmor" and "A Maid for Each." Abi Samra received critical acclaim and won several awards for his documentary "Tadmor," which explores the experiences of Lebanese detainees in a Syrian prison. His work is characterized by a deep reflection on human rights and the complexities of the region.

Films

A Maid for Each

A Maid for Each

By Maher Abi Samra

2016 | 67 min | Documentary

This harrowing documentary exposes the inhumane working conditions of foreign domestic workers in Lebanon that resemble modern-day slavery.

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Galamsey - For a Fistful of Gold

Galamsey - For a Fistful of Gold

2017 | 29 min | Documentary

Johannes Preuss worked as a development worker in Ghana and returns several years later as a filmmaker. In the meantime, a bloody conflict between police and gold miners has flared up in the small town of Twifu Praso. Who are the profiteers and who are the victims in this destructive hunt for sparkling stones? On his journey Preuss discovers places that resemble devastated moonscapes and learns of a dangerous attraction between man and gold. "Investigative journalism meets tough guys, clanging beats, ...

Towards Jerusalem

Towards Jerusalem

1990 | 85 min | Documentary

The film moves from the lights of Tel Aviv discos to the immigrant housing of Ethiopians to the burial site of Samuel the Prophet, capturing the voices and vistas of contemporary Israeli culture and politics.(National Center for Jewish Film) "An expressive overview of Israel in 1990" (Süddeutsche Zeitung) What became of the dream of a Jewish homeland? In this documentary road movie, Austrian filmmaker Ruth Beckermann records the diverse views and activities of Israelis and Arabs as she travels ...

Factory to the Workers

Factory to the Workers

2022 | 106 min | Documentary

Despite controlling the means of production, the workers face difficulties with outdated machinery, delayed deliveries, and generational differences. The older generation is passionate about the current model, but the younger workers prioritize stability and getting paid. The film strikes a balance between discussing governance structures and focusing on the human interest of the characters. The shooting style is observational, allowing for emotional scenes to unfold naturally. One potential legacy ...

Coming and Going

Coming and Going

2015 | 89 min | Documentary

Tianlin Xu, Gold Remi winner at the WorldFest Houston, tells in her documentary film COMING AND GOING the story of four Chinese boys and their hopes, dreams and the challenges they face. The film tells the coming-of-age story of two siblings from two different families living as neighbors in the Chinese backcountry. Two orphaned teenage brothers, Long (18) and Cheng (16), leave their remote mountain village behind to seek their fortune in two separate major cities. Meanwhile, their young neighbors, ...

A Pile of Ghosts

A Pile of Ghosts

2021 | 70 min | Documentary

A PILE OF GHOSTS showcases construction workers and real estate brokers at work in both authentic and staged settings, blurring the lines between documentation and fiction. The story follows the dandyesque hotel owner Charles in the last hotel, still standing amidst condemned buildings, as he defies the urbanization process. Raidel's film is a haunting commentary on the retort-like environment of contemporary Chinese cities, layered with seemingly disparate building blocks to form the title's "pile". Raidel's ...

Stories from the Sea

Stories from the Sea

2021 | 86 min | Documentary

The film shows these women as they navigate the sea, calculate routes and perform tasks such as hoisting the sails and steering the ship. The documentary features women of different ages and backgrounds, including an apprentice on a cargo ship, a retiree traveling alone on a cruise ship, and a group of young people on a sailing trip for intercultural understanding. The sea serves as a unifying element between the stories, and Serafin Spitzer's film footage captures the vastness and beauty of the ...

Jobcenter

Jobcenter

2009 | 79 min | Documentary

Helmut or Sieglinde are over fifty and are considered "unemployable" or unattractive on the labor market. On the other end of the spectrum are Martin, Mathias or Atafa, who are at the beginning of their working lives. JOBCENTER shows us a how job training works in Austria. Whose interests are served here? This documentary by Austrian talent Angela Summereder played at the Viennale in Vienna and reflects on the job market, on how people can be helped, and on abuses of power.

Infinity According to Florian

Infinity According to Florian

2022 | 70 min | Documentary

On the eve of his 90th birthday, Kiev architect Florian Yuriev is facing a daunting challenge. His architectural masterpiece, an avant-garde concert hall in the shape of a flying saucer, is under threat from a developer with links to Donald Trump. This developer wants to turn the building into part of a shopping mall. In a bold move, Yuriev fights the project with the help of other architects and young supporters. They spark a media storm and the result is a momentary victory. The developer promises ...

From the Ashes

From the Ashes

2019 | 19 min | Documentary

In December 2018, the last German coal mine in Bottrop closed it shafts. At the Prosper-Haniel II mine site, the miners are clearing out the last production facilities. Meanwhile, undead miners haunt the old cleaning trac as part of a newly opened horror theme park. The advertised "goosebumps guarantee" of the "NRW creepy maze" is bringing jobs back. The miners children are earning a living now not as coal miners, but as miner zombies in "Shaft 13". ZWISCHENTAGE observes structural change using ...

Masala Chai

Masala Chai

2018 | 62 min | Documentary

Although they make their living in the same way, their daily lives are very different. The documentary gives a deep insight into the lives of five tea cooks and at the same time takes a look at the social circumstances, contrasts and traditions of India. For all of them have a story to tell, and as they tell their stories, we learn about India's multifaceted, nuanced and multilayered society. "Hülser is able to not only show these petty self-employed folks in the midst of their poverty and squalor ...