Syria and Me – The Revolution Chronicles

“Me in English… from Syria 2012, as frequent as possible. Orwa”, was the short sentence that came up on facebook yesterday from film producer and Dox Box festival in Damascus director Orwa Nyrabia, who has been reporting from Syria since the revolution started March 15 2011. Knowing Orwa since the start of the festival that I visited the four times it has taken place, I can only express admiration and gratitude for this gesture from a reliable and tireless communicator. Facebook people, go to “Syria and Me – The Revolution Chronicles” and follow what Nyrabia posts of texts and clips.

“I will do my best answering questions and helping understand the Syrian situation today if you ask me! Kindly ask through comments.”, writes Orwa Nyrabia.

On this facebook page you will also find a link to Reel Festivals, a Scottish based initiative that “believe that art and culture are the best way to break down barriers and increase communication” through events that have focused on Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan with poetry, music and film. A very interesting site, address below. Khaled Khalifa’s letter is being spread through Reel festivals, among others. I don’t know Khalifa personally, this is what Reel Festivals writes: KK is a Syrian author based in Damascus. His 2006 novel “In Praise of Hatred” was a finalist for the International Prize for Arabic fiction, and has been banned in Syria.

Back to Orwa, 47 minutes ago: Dear World, war in Syria cannot be prevented anymore… because it already started. We can hear it, then, every time one finds the courage to walk towards the sound, one does see it.

From now on, war can only be won, quickly.

http://www.reelfestivals.org/letter-from-damascus/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Syria-and-Me-The-Revolution-Chronicles/318536521531396

Tue Steen Müller

Müller, Tue Steen
Documentary Consultant and Critic, DENMARK

Worked with documentary films for more than 20 years at the Danish Film Board, as press officer, festival representative and film consultant/commissioner. Co-founder of Balticum Film and TV Festival, Filmkontakt Nord, Documentary of the EU and EDN (European Documentary Network).
Awards: 2004 the Danish Roos Prize for his contribution to the Danish and European documentary culture. 2006 an award for promoting Portuguese documentaries. 2014 he received the EDN Award “for an outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture”. 2016 The Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. 2019 a Big Stamp at the 15th edition of ZagrebDox. 2021 receipt of the highest state decoration, Order of the Three Stars, Fourth Class, for the significant contribution to the development and promotion of Latvian documentary cinema outside Latvia. In 2022 he received an honorary award at DocsBarcelona’s 25th edition having served as organizer and programmer since the start of the festival.
From 1996 until 2005 he was the first director of EDN (European Documentary Network). From 2006 a freelance consultant and teacher in workshops like Ex Oriente, DocsBarcelona, Archidoc, Documentary Campus, Storydoc, Baltic Sea Forum, Black Sea DocStories, Caucadoc, CinéDOC Tbilisi, Docudays Kiev, Dealing With the Past Sarajevo FF as well as programme consultant for the festivals Magnificent7 in Belgrade, DOCSBarcelona, Verzio Budapest, Message2Man in St. Petersburg and DOKLeipzig. Teaches at the Zelig Documentary School in Bolzano Italy.

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