Scenes 1. Basma Khalifa on the culture around independent documentary film making
Dec 6, 2021
Basma Khalifa, a talented Sudanese-born director and multidisciplinary creative, discusses her journey from Northern Ireland to filmmaking. She shares her experiences growing up as a child of the diaspora and the challenges of representation in fashion and media. Basma dives into her impactful documentary, Inside the Real Saudi Arabia, revealing its intent to understand misunderstood lives. She emphasizes the importance of everyday people telling their own stories and the creative burnout she faces while juggling multiple projects with notable collaborators.
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Early Loves: Mum And A Furby
- Basma first real childhood attachment was to her mother and then to a Furby toy that blew her mind.
- She describes the Furby as exclusive and unforgettable during early childhood shopping trips.
Living Between Two Worlds
- Growing up in Northern Ireland meant switching between a public Northern Irish identity and a private Sudanese home life.
- Basma only later reflected on how those dual worlds shaped her sense of self.
Teenage Identity Tensions
- Puberty brought culture clashes as Basma wanted the same freedoms as her white friends while her family emphasized representing their community.
- She recalls being told her behavior would represent all black people in her town.
