Sallam Faces Travel Barriers After 'Farha' Sparked 2021 Oscar Bid
The filmmaker's debut feature, which drew international condemnation, has informed her approach to her next project, 'Churching of Women.',
By Lina Lewis ·
The release of Darin J. Sallam's debut feature, 'Farha,' triggered a wave of diplomatic and public criticism that has continued to affect the Palestinian-Jordanian director's career. The film, which centers on a young Palestinian girl during the 1948 Nakba, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2021. It subsequently served as Jordan's official submission for the International Feature Film Academy Award and was distributed globally through Netflix.
The controversy intensified after the streaming release, with specific focus on a scene showing Israeli soldiers killing a Palestinian family. Israeli government officials publicly condemned the narrative, and Sallam reported receiving harassment and online abuse from various quarters. The dispute has had tangible consequences for Sallam, who stated she has been unable to travel to Palestine since the film's debut.
Sallam, currently serving on the narrative features jury at the 13th Sharjah International Festival for Children and Youth in the UAE, maintains that the risk of professional derailment was anticipated. "I never questioned that decision or regretted it for a moment," she said. She described the process of bringing the film to life as a worthwhile endeavor whose impact persists to the present day.
The story originated from a refugee account passed down through Sallam's mother. She argued that history is most effectively understood through individual human experiences rather than broad historical overviews. "Personal stories are often the most powerful way to understand history and society," Sallam explained. She noted that women's experiences are frequently overlooked or silenced in historical records, a gap she intended to address through the character of Farha.
This philosophy guides her current work, 'Churching of Women,' her second feature film. Set in the Levant in 1938, the script follows Fadia, a female author who loses her parents and turns to her cousin for support. He subsequently confines her to a mental asylum to seize her inheritance. The project won the ArteKino International Award at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival Asian Project Market and is currently in advanced development and financing.
Sallam views the new project as an expansion of her thematic interests, allowing her to explore colonial power structures, grief, and female solidarity. She described the project as a challenge that excites her due to the complexity of the characters. "It's a challenge I'm particularly excited about, especially given my love of working with actors," she said. The team is using lessons from the production and distribution of 'Farha' to inform the strategy for the new film.
The experience of the backlash has not made Sallam more cautious in selecting stories. She stated that the process has strengthened her resolve to bring specific narratives to cinema. "I cannot wait to share 'Churching of Women' with audiences," she added, citing the unique characters and their world as the primary draw.
Sallam's current role at the Sharjah Festival has reinforced her view of younger viewers. She observed that children and adolescents possess a level of curiosity and emotional maturity that warrants deep cinematic engagement. "They are not spectators to be underestimated because of their age," she said, describing the interaction between young audiences and the films as heartwarming.
