TRAILERS AND FILMS

Syria's Tent Cities Trailer

Directed by Mira Hamour

Many Syrian refugee children around the world don’t have access to a basic education, and this becomes a barrier to them growing up to be literate, self-sufficient, contributing members of their society. 
Some refugees are living illegally in neighbouring countries, while others have been resettled permanently halfway across the world in Canada. This film examines the lives of the Syrian refugees on both sides of the globe, as they slowly improve their situation through the efforts of two individuals who have dedicated their lives to making  education and inclusiveness a right for all Syrian children.

PCOS Trailer

Directed by Mira Hamour

Facial hair, unpredictable weight changes, and infertility. This is often the fate of women diagnosed with PCOS. Do they embrace and accept their bodies, or will going under the knife be the ultimate solution?

Safe or Sorry Trailer

Directed by Mira Hamour

Safe or Sorry is a short documentary that tells the story of the filmmaker's uncle and grandmother, two Syrian senior citizens who had to unexpectedly relocate to Saudi Arabia.
Although they are now technically safe, their lives have changed drastically. Was it worth the move?

KCETLink's Where Cultures Collide

Zaffa

Producer: Mira Hamour
Zaffa is a wedding procession filled with music and dance and can include elaborate costumes as well. It’s a custom with a long history in Arabic cultures and the tradition continues today. In Southern California, performance groups are hired to lead the Zaffa at weddings.

Santeria

Associate Producer: Mira Hamour
Charles Guelperin, a Santero or priest in the religion of Santeria, explains that his practice is changing and his clients are people from many different countries. Santeria’s history goes back to Africa. Its roots in the spiritual practices of Africans, brought to countries like Cuba and Brazil as slaves, evolved and spread with time and migration. In the U.S., the religion has felt its share of prejudice and controversy, ultimately leading to a Supreme Court case. In this documentary short, Guelperin and Ysamur Flores Pena, a college professor who is also a priest in Santeria, open up about their practices and dispel some of the myths surrounding the religion.

Polynesian Tattoo

Associate Producer: Mira Hamour
In Polynesian cultures, tattoos are an ancient custom used to signify rites of passage and milestones in life. Samoan and Southern Californian tattoo artist Sulu’ape Si’i Liufa was recently featured in the exhibition Tatau: Marks of Polynesia at the Japanese American National Museum in his continuation of Polynesian style tattoos, or tatau. Liufa largely adheres to the traditional methods of inking human canvases and works in hours-long sessions of tapping intricate designs and explains the historical and cultural significance of Polynesian tattoos.

Dominican English Immersion School

Directed By Mira Hamour
Shot in El Limón, Samana, Dominican Republic.
Students attend the Centro Tecnologico Comunitario  in Samana in the hopes of learning English and attaining a better life ; whether that means working in the tourism industry locally or moving to the United States to start over.
However, their teacher explains why her students might not have a full understanding of the reality that awaits them once they leave.