A special screening of Nearby Sky, directed by Nujoom Alghanem, presents a compelling and socially aware narrative.

The documentary centers around Fatima, a passionate camel breeder, who faces barriers in entering beauty contests and races solely due to her gender. Alghanem captures the ongoing struggle between tradition and modernity, highlighting themes of gender dynamics and societal expectations. This cinematic experience encourages viewers to contemplate Fatima's challenges and the larger discussions surrounding belonging, agency, and cultural identity.

By showcasing a woman's fight in a male-dominated environment, Nearby Sky emphasizes the ability of film to shed light on the intricate matters of civic involvement and social change.

An open discussion will follow the screening, featuring Nujoom Alghanem and curator Fatoş Üstek.

About the Artist

Nujoom Alghanem is an acclaimed Emirati poet, artist, and filmmaker, born in 1962 in Dubai, UAE. She has authored 11 poetry collections in Arabic and has seen her works translated into various languages such as English, Spanish, French, German, and Turkish. With over 20 films to her name, including feature documentaries and art films, her cinematic works have garnered more than 40 awards internationally. Alghanem’s contributions have been acknowledged both in the UAE and beyond, earning her notable accolades such as the Pride of the UAE Medal.

Her career began in the early 1980s as a journalist before she became the head of the cultural section at Al-Ittihad Newspaper, the UAE’s first regular publication. She further developed her expertise as a leader in training at Emirates Media Incorporated before establishing Nahar Productions in 2010. Alongside her film projects, she actively mentors and trains others in art and filmmaking. Nujoom holds a master’s degree in film production from Griffith University in Australia and a Bachelor’s degree in video production from Ohio University in the United States.