About the Film:
Writing Hawa (2024) — Directed by Najiba Noori & Rasul Noori | Afghanistan, Qatar, France, Netherlands | Documentary | 84 mins | Farsi with English subtitles
This moving documentary follows three generations of Hazara women in Afghanistan as they navigate patriarchal traditions, education, and survival under the Taliban. Director Najiba Noori captures her mother Hawa’s courageous journey toward literacy and independence, and her niece Zahra’s fight to preserve hope for the future. Writing Hawa is a rare, intimate look at womanhood, resilience, and the price of freedom in a nation at war with itself.
🎬 With Short Film:
Hatch (2024) — Directed by Panta Mosleh & Alireza Kazemipour | Canada | Fiction | 10 mins
Naaji, a young Afghan refugee boy, hides with his mother inside a water tanker to escape danger. When tragedy strikes, his story becomes a haunting reflection on loss, memory, and love.
👩💼 About the Director:
Najiba Noori was born in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, and began her journalism career at 15. Her reporting for AFP, UN Women, and Huffington Post gave voice to Afghan women during years of social upheaval. After fleeing the Taliban’s return in 2021, she relocated to France. Writing Hawa is her debut feature documentary, created through the Close-Up Program and supported by the IDFA Academy.
🎟 Tickets:
🎫 Get Tickets
💰 Included with Rendezvous with Madness Festival Pass
♿ Accessibility:
The event venue is accessible.
📍 Location:
CAMH Auditorium
1025 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
