FADIA'S TREE
a film by Sarah Beddington
SYNOPSIS
While millions of birds migrate freely in the skies, a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, yearns for the ancestral homeland she is denied. She challenges Sarah, the Director, to find an ancient mulberry tree that stands as witness to her family’s existence — with only inherited memories, a blind man and a two-headed dragon as her guides. Along the way, Sarah meets with ornithologists whose observations on the homing instincts of the birds highlight the unresolved problems of the region.
Spanning fifteen years, this story of a friendship that stays connected across a divided land and a fragmented people adopts a birds’ eye perspective to reflect on freedom of movement, exile and the hope of return.
WATCH THE TRAILER
REVIEWS
A study of displacement with airborne grace notes.
CHRISTIAN LISSEMAN, BIG ISSUE NORTH
Fadia’s Tree is a very beautiful film: You emerge into the light with your understanding intensified, feeling perhaps a little altered. It both tells a personal story and presents a political narrative by delicate metaphor, never harangues, is elegantly paced, and very timely.
JAMES WOODALL, JOURNALIST AND WRITER
I felt compelled to create a brand new judging criteria for this film because it showed me something so extraordinary about a subject matter I thought I knew quite well.
MAYTHEM RIDHA,
AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER AND FESTIVAL JUROR
A poetic meditation on exile and return.
18th May, 2023 - Filmoteca de MURCIA, Spain
14th May, 2023 - The Garden Cinema, LONDON, UK
30th March, 2023 - Donegal Intercultural Platform, LETTERKENNY, Ireland
10th March, 202 - Amaia KZ, IRUN, Spain
9th March, 2023 - Zelai Arizti, ZUMARRAGA, Spain
9th March, 2023 - The Old Ground Hotel, ENNIS, Ireland
8th March, 2023 - Ormston House, Cultural Resource Centre, LIMERICK, Ireland
7th March, 2023 - Aonach Mhach Cultural Centre, ARMAGH, Northen Ireland
5th March, 2023 - St Patrick's Gateway Centre, WATERFORD, Ireland
5th March, 2023 - The Pearse Centre, DUBLIN, Ireland
4th March, 2023 - Omagh Community House, OMAGH, Northern Ireland
28th Feb, 2023 - Usurbe Antzokia, BEASAIN, Spain
2022 BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS: Nomination - Discovery Award
2022 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AWARD: Best Documentary
2022 KARAMA HRFF FEATHER AWARD: Best Documentary
2022 BARNES FILM FESTIVAL: Best Documentary
2023 GIRLS ON FILM AWARDS: Nomination - Best Documentary
18th Oct, 2023 - FLIGH, GENOVA, Italy
31st May, 2023 - T.I.F.A. , Brazil
23rd March, 2023 - MIGRATION & ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL, Canada
25th Feb, 2023 - KEWSICK FILM FESTIVAL, UK
8th Jan, 2023 – BLOWUP ARTHOUSE FILM FEST, Chicago, USA
8th Dec, 2022 – BRISTOL PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL, UK
18th Nov, 2022 – LEEDS PALESTINIAN FILM FESTIVAL, UK
10th Nov, 2022 – ARAB FILM FESTIVAL, San Francisco, USA
6th Nov, 2022 – FILMBATH FESTIVAL, UK
6th Nov, 2022 – AUSTRALIAN PALESTINIAN FILM FESTIVAL, Sydney, Australia
14th Oct, 2022 – BOSTON PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL, USA
13th Oct, 2022 – RED CARPET HRFF, Gaza, Palestine
29th Sept, 2022 – TWIN CITIES ARAB FILM FESTIVAL, Minnesota, USA
21st Sept, 2022 – SEOUL HRFF, Korea
21st June, 2022 – BARNES FILM FESTIVAL, UK
Best Feature Documentary Award
7th April, 2022 – DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN HRFF, Spain
Amnesty International Award for Best Feature Film
28th April, 2022 – ARAB NETWORK FOR HRFF, Djerba, Tunisia
9th March, 2022 – HUMAN SCREEN FESTIVAL, Tunis, Tunisia
7th Dec, 2021 – KARAMA HRFF, Amman, Jordan
Feather Award for Best Documentary
27th Nov, 2021 – LONDON PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL, UK
5th Nov, 2021 – PALESTINE CINEMA DAYS, Ramallah, Palestine
Sunbird Nomination for Best Documentary
