What is the balance of curation and community-consultation especially when cultural identities are so fraught and disparate? How can a community-rooted event still serve as an invitation for learning and connection across differences?

These are some of the themes that we explore with our guest this week, Hajer Al-Awsi. Alongside her new role festival director of the inaugural SWANA Film Festival, writer, arts worker and founder of Iraqi Diaspora Creatives Network. She joined Race Matters to chat through the new festival and thoughts behind the curation, as well as delving into the joys and challenges of presenting art of a complex and rich region.

Catch SWANA Film Fest from April 28- 30, showcasing over 20 films spanning across Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Armenia, and Syria!

SWANA Film Festival is a project of Arts and Cultural Exchange Parramatta and is supported by Screen NSW, City of Parramatta and Arab Theatre Studio.

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#135: Cinema Beyond Borders (with Hajer Al-Awsi / SWANA Film Fest)