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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Spoken Word Changed Her Path
- Finding a Black African/Caribbean spoken-word night in London was transformative and made Basma feel seen.
- She attended alone multiple times and realised others shared her lived experience.
Documentaries As Understanding
- Basma aims to spotlight unheard worlds rather than judge them, seeking to understand why people become who they are.
- She frames her documentary work as anthropological and curious rather than accusatory.
Use Your Platform As A Vessel
- Be a vessel: create opportunities for others to speak and tell their truths rather than speaking over them.
- Use your platform to let everyday people share their stories authentically.
