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culture

Cinema. Currently, I draw inspiration from
both my Iraqi heritage and the multicultural
landscape of Canada, aiming to create narratives
that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Through my work, I aim to shed light on untold
stories, amplify voices that are often marginalized,
and foster empathy and understanding across
communities. Whether through the lens of
a camera or the pages of a screenplay, I see
storytelling as a catalyst for dialogue, change, and
connection in an increasingly interconnected
world.

You have been admitted to the Iraqi Society of
Writers. Could you tell us something about it
and how you fit into it as as both a writer and
an artist?
The Iraqi Society of Writers is a prestigious
organization that brings together writers from
diverse backgrounds and disciplines to celebrate
the rich literary heritage of Iraq and promote the
advancement of literature in the country and
beyond. There is a part of this institution that
is concerned with artists and intellectuals who
work in various specializations. This part is the revitalization. They contribute by creating public
radio and television forum in the Iraqi Writers artworks, addressing social issues, preserving
Union. I am not a formal member of the Iraqi cultural heritage, and promoting diversity.
Society of Writers, but I was there as a guest. Urgent tasks include preserving cultural heritage,
They wanted to celebrate me because I work in empowering artists, engaging communities, and
the field of artistic creativity in television and promoting inclusiveness. Through art, Iraq can
cinema, to talk about my long experience. As heal, inspire, and unite its people. This can be
we know, cinema and television create culture, achieved through various media, including
literature, and stimulate the imagination, just as literature, film, theatre, music, and visual arts.
books do. Also, my experiences as a filmmaker
informs my approach to storytelling, infusing my Because I work in the image industry, and I
writing with visual imagery, cinematic pacing, strongly believe in the role of the image and its
and a keen awareness of the power of dialogue importance in influencing society, I insist that
and narrative structure. At the same time, my the visual and audio arts have a major role to
background as an Iraqi living in Canada lends play in changing the condition of the individual
a unique perspective to my work, allowing me and society.
with depth and authenticity to explore themes of
identity, displacement and belonging. From my point of view, some of the urgent tasks
in both areas include:
For decades, your country has lived through 1. preservation of cultural heritage –
challenging times – to say the least. What role do safeguarding Iraq’s rich cultural heritage is
you think art and the artist have to play in the essential for rebuilding national identity and
physical reconstruction of your country and in promoting a sense of belonging among citizens;
the revitalization of Iraqi society? What seem to 2. education and empowerment – investing in
be the most urgent tasks in both areas? arts education and empowering emerging artists
It is in disputable that art and artists play a vital is crucial for nurturing creativity and innovation
role in Iraq’s physical reconstruction and social in Iraqi society;

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