Batata ('potato' in Arabic) is a (2022) Canadian-Lebanese documentary film directed by Noura Kevorkian.^[4] The film is a portrait of Maria, a Syrian woman working in Lebanon whose life is upended by the Syrian civil war and its associated refugee crisis.^[5]

The film was conceived in 2009, prior to the outbreak of the war, as a portrait of Maria's father Abu Jamil and potato-farmer Movses (Mousa) Doudaklian, two men who forged a close friendship through years of working together on Doudaklian's potato farm in Lebanon despite the traditional enmity between Lebanese Christians (Mousa) and Syrian Muslims (Abu Jamil). As the outbreak of the war turns the farm into a desolate refugee camp, the film's focus shifted onto Maria and her resolute determination to keep her family safe and united against the forces that threatened to destroy them.^[6]

Batata is a one-woman tour-de-force of filmmaking. Noura Kevorkian filmed for ten years in Lebanese refugee camps and edited for a further two years during the Covid19 pandemic. She is the film's Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor (principal), and Co-Producer. Her filmmaking journey is described in her many interviews and podcasts.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Batata premiered in Official Competition (2022) at the FIPADOC film festival in Biarritz, France. ^[11] The film had its Canadian premiere (2022) at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto and streamed on the 'Hot Docs at Home' platform.^[12] The film had its US premiere (2023) at the Lighthouse International Film Festival in New Jersey. ^[13]Batata screened in festivals around the globe and received many awards. ^[14]

Batata had its theatrical premiere in Toronto (2023) to coincide with World Refugee Day, in partnership with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Canada) at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, Canada.^[15]

Batata received an Honorable Mention at Hot Docs for Best Canadian Feature Documentary.^[16]

Batata received three Nominations at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards (2023) for Best Feature Length Documentary, Best Cinematography in a Documentary (Noura Kevorkian), and Best Editing in a Documentary (Noura Kevorkian, Mike Munn).^[17]

Batata won a Peabody Award (2023), as one of 35 of the most 'compelling and empowering stories released in broadcasting, streaming, and interactive media' among 1,400 entries.^[18]

Batata was Nominated for the Allan King Award for Best Documentary Film and for Best Editing Documentary at the Directors Guild of Canada awards (2023).^[19]

Awards

Exhibitions

References

External links

• Batata at IMDb