LSFF: Another Kind of Girl

Only two years into the Syrian war, over 3,500 journalists had traveled through Camp Za'atari to tell stories of the Syrian people who were forced out of their country to live in exile in Jordan. The stories told were somewhat black and white and largely tragic. In response to the often negative reporting of the refugee experience, filmmaker Laura Doggett travelled to Za’atari, organising workshops that engaged Syrian girls in artistic and technical training in video to reflect on and tell their own stories in first person. Another Kind of Girl is the end result of these workshops. The seven films document everyday life in the camp, giving an entirely different viewpoint than that offered by mainstream media.

LSFF presents a rare chance to see the complete Another Kind of Girl collection, followed by a panel discussion exploring the portrayal of refugees in the media, and projects that endeavour to challenge mainstream rhetoric. Panelists include Another Kind of Girl facilitator Laura Doggett, Florence Burton of Women Speak Out, and Olivia Humphries, a documentary maker working in radio and film. The panel will be chaired by BAFTA nominated producer of A Syrian Love Story Elhum Shakerifar.