The Way Back Home is a two-minute poetic film that unfolds underwater, where a woman’s expressive movements accompany a powerful monologue on identity, womanhood, and self-ownership — written, directed, and narrated by the filmmaker herself. As the performer drifts through silence and resistance, the voice rises against the weight of judgment and expectation — reclaiming scars, softness, and the right to become. A cinematic meditation on finding one’s way back to the self.

Project Links

•  Website
•  Instagram

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to create a visual letter to my daughter—and to every woman— and I had created this film for women’s day, and all I could think about is that I am the mother of two beautiful daughters and mostly because I know about the invisible pressures we carry from before we are born, especially in the Middle East. The underwater space became a metaphor for silence, strength, and survival. It allowed me to express what words alone couldn’t say: the constant act of rising back to the surface.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The idea came very instinctively, and the film was created within just a week, I had a clear vision of how I wanted to do it. I gave my friends a call, they jumped on board and off we went to filming… everything flowed naturally. The post-production, sound, and narration were done also within another week where I completely isolated myself and did the edit and all voice recordings.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Depths of a woman

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

It was the funding, but it didn’t take long before I contacted a friend of mine who offered the full funding of the film. Keeping in mind that many people worked on this project voluntarily as well, believing in the project.

5. There are 5 Stages of Filmmaking: 1) Development. 2) Pre-Production. 3) Production. 4) Post-Production. 5) Distribution. 

What is your favorite stage of the process and why?

My favorite stage of this project was its filming because it felt very soothing, very spiritual and the energy in that aquarium studio was magical.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Ever since I was 18, now I am 44 years old.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Malèna by Giuseppe Tornatore.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Connecting filmmakers with curators, writers, producers, and distributors through creative talks or one-on-one mentorships would be incredibly helpful. We need not just exposure but genuine dialogue and exchange.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

It’s been easy and inspiring. The platform gives independent filmmakers visibility and accessibility that once felt impossible.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Anything Mediterranean—simple, fresh, and full of flavor. I am also a great cook, and always prefer homemade meals that are cooked from the heart, and food that has soul!

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’ve just filmed a new underwater piece with artistic nudity — imagined as a parallel world where a woman finally feels safe to be her truest self. It’s the beginning of a narrative short that continues my exploration of women’s emotional and visual freedom.