Al Jazeera 360 Documentary Wins Anhar Award at Karama Human Rights Film Festival
The documentary film "Gaza: The Voice of Life and Death," produced by Al Jazeera 360, has been awarded the prestigious Anhar Award at the Karama Human Rights Film Festival in Amman, Jordan. This film uniquely captures the ongoing conflict in Gaza through the lens of sound, focusing on the experiences of audio technician Mohammed Yaghi, who has been documenting the sounds of life and death amidst the turmoil since the onset of the war on October 7, 2023.
The film's production took place during the conflict, with editing conducted in a tent within a refugee camp. This setting underscores the urgency and authenticity of the documentary, as it presents voices from Gaza that often go unheard due to the violence. Awad Jumaa, head of original production at Al Jazeera 360, shared that the inspiration for the film arose during the filming of an episode of "Diary of a Fighter" prior to the war, highlighting the profound impact of the sound engineer's work.
Shada Salhab, the film's producer, emphasized that the documentary serves as a cinematic icon, transforming sound into a witness of the ongoing tragedy and human suffering in Gaza. She noted that cinema acts as a form of resistance and is integral to the evolving Palestinian narrative.
The Karama Human Rights Film Festival, established in 2010, has become a significant platform for promoting dialogue on human rights issues in the Middle East and North Africa. Over its 11-year history, the festival has showcased more than 600 films from 66 countries, including documentaries, feature films, shorts, and animations. This year, alongside the award-winning film, the festival featured other notable productions such as "Eyes of Gaza" and the documentary "Al-Shifa Hospital."