MEDIHA Team Joins Variety Doc Dreams Panel with Malala Yousafzai

On November the 12th, the creative team behind MEDIHA took center stage at Variety’s first-ever Doc Dreams panel in New York, a special event designed to showcase some of the most anticipated upcoming documentaries. Director Hasan Oswald, alongside the film’s central participant and co-cinematographer, Mediha Alhamad, participated in an insightful discussion that also featured Nobel laureate and girls’ education advocate Malala Yousafzai.

MEDIHA tells the powerful story of a teenage Ezidi girl, Mediha, who survived captivity under ISIS and now embarks on a journey to find her missing family members. What sets the film apart is the deeply personal nature of the storytelling, as Mediha herself takes up the camera to process her trauma and share her experience of survival and resilience.

The event, which brought together some of the most prominent figures in documentary filmmaking, was attended by a range of industry professionals, including AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) members, as well as guild and union voting members.

During the panel, Hasan Oswald spoke about the importance of allowing Mediha to tell her own story, highlighting how her role as co-cinematographer was integral to the authenticity of the film. This unorthodox approach to filmmaking added new layers of depth, with Mediha’s direct involvement providing a unique and intimate perspective on her journey.

Malala Yousafzai, who has long been an advocate for girls’ education and the empowerment of women, also participated in the conversation. As a producer of BREAD & ROSES—another powerful documentary about women’s struggles—Malala shared her admiration for Mediha’s courage and her desire to bring attention to the plight of Ezidi women and girls. Mediha, who has looked up to Malala as a source of inspiration, expressed her hope that her film would serve as a platform for the voices of Ezidi survivors. “I want to make something for my people,” Mediha said, underscoring her commitment to telling stories that matter to her people.