Batata

DIRECTOR: Noura Kevorkian

10 years in the life of a Syrian refugee

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2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the Syrian Refugee Crisis. With over 13 million displaced, it remains the largest human forced migration crisis of our times, but sadly not the last. Shot over an unparalleled 10 years, Syrian-Lebanese director Noura Kevorkian’s intimate camera follows the plight of Maria and her family of Syrian migrant workers who find themselves unable to return back to their hometown of Raqqa Syria. Unique among the numerous refugee stories to date, the multi-award-winning, Oscar-qualifying long-process documentary BATATA captures an entire decade while documenting not just the age-old conflict between two nations, but the unbending spirit of a woman who puts family ahead of all else.

AWARDS
***Best Feature Documentary (Academy Award qualifying Tanit d’or) - CARTHAGE***
**Human Rights Award - CARTHAGE**
**Audience Award TOP 10 Films - HOT DOCS**
**Amnesty Award - DURBAN INTERNATIONAL**
*Directors Guild Special Jury Prize (Honourable Mention) - HOT DOCS*
*Best International Documentary (Special Mention) - DURBAN INTERNATIONAL*
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS (highlights)
  • International Competition FIPADOC, France
  • Juried Competition HOT DOCS, Canada
  • Amnesty International Award Nomination THESSALONIKI, Greece
  • Official Competition JOURNÉES CINÉMATOGRAPHIQUES DE CARTHAGE, Tunisia
  • Official Competition DURBAN INTERNATIONAL, South Africa 
  • International Competition IT’S ALL TRUE / É TUDO VERDADE, Brazil
  • Official Competition DOK.fest MUNICH, Germany
  • Official Competition KITZBÜHEL, Austria
  • Official Competition TERRAVIVA, Italy
  • Special Presentation MAN IN DANGER, Poland
  • Official Selection GALWAY, Ireland
  • Official Selection DOC EDGE, New Zealand
  • Official Selection ANTENNA, Australia
  • Official Selection FIN ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL, Canada

“Kevorkian’s eye for human interaction, and particularly between children, is remarkable… An extraordinary film.” - Marc Glassman, POV Magazine

“A beautiful film, and really powerful." - Matt Galloway, CBC The Current (start: 46’14”)

"An incredible hairpin turn!" - John Moore, Newstalk 1010

“A fascinating story and film" - Ben O'Hara-Byrne, Corus Radio

“It's a wow movie." Michael Howell, Executive Director Devour! CBC News  

REVIEWS
POV Magazine ("BATATA - Extraordinary Work Ten Years in the Making")
Original Cin ("Top Picks for World's Biggest Doc Festival")
Classical FM ("Hot Docs Exemplary Picks")
POV Magazine ("BATATA Holds Top Spot in Audience Award Race")
 
PRINT
The Globe & Mail - Op Ed ("The Syrian Refugee Crisis Still Requires Our Urgent Attention")
Women and Hollywood ("Meet Noura Kevorkian - BATATA")
Original Cin ("BATATA Director on Life at a Lebanese Potato Farm/Refugee Camp through Syria and ISIS")
UNHCR News ("Canadian Filmmaker Chronicles the Life of a Syrian Refugee Family in Lebanon")
Hollywood North Magazine ("Noura Kevorkian Shares a Ten-Year Refugee Journey")
 
RADIO/PODCASTS
CBC Radio - The Current (start: 46:14)
Corus Radio - A Little More Conversation ("New Documentary Highlights Syrian Refugee Crisis")
Newstalk 1010 ("Noura Kevorkian Witnesses First Hand Repercussions of the Syrian War")
 
TV
Global News ("Chat with Director of BATATA")
CP24 (Interview with Noura Kevorkian)