Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2025
Time: 4 pm – 7 pm
Location: Museum of Islamic Art - Auditorium

Film Screening: ‘Dahomey’

Join us for a compelling film experience as Ajyal Film Club proudly presents a screening of ‘Dahomey’ by Mati Diop.

Year: 2024
Film type: Feature Documentary
Director: Mati Diop
Runtime: 68 min
Languages: Fon and French with English and Arabic Subtitles

Synopsis:
A poetic and immersive work of art that delves into real perspectives on far-reaching issues surrounding appropriation, self-determination and restitution. Set in November 2021, the documentary charts 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey that are due to leave Paris and return to their country of origin: the present-day Republic of Benin. Using multiple perspectives Diop questions how these artifacts should be received in a country that has reinvented itself in their absence. Winner of the coveted Golden Bear prize at the 2024 Berlinale.

Following the film screening, Bader member Nada El Ali will moderate an engaging Q&A session.

Masterclass: Visual Storytelling with Yasser AlNaemi

Join Director of Photography Yasser AlNaemi for an insightful discussion on the making of ‘Dahomey’ by Mati Diop. Through an exploration of the film’s visual approach, Yasser will break down how it was crafted with limited resources yet achieved a powerful impact. He will also examine the film’s unique style compared to other forms of documentary filmmaking—offering a deeper understanding of cinematography’s role in shaping a story.