The RedCut Collective is composed of independent filmmakers whose aim is to strengthen the bonds with and among their peers in the Middle East by relying on shared experiences and knowledge. The RedCut Collective hopes to transcend geographical borders and create a space for convergence among independent filmmakers, particularly those in and from the Middle East. This collective aims to explore novel and creative forms of expression and break free from the capitalist conventions that dominate the film industry, in production, distribution, and audience engagement.
Article
“An Inquiry into the Dual Existence of Women in the Global South in the Works of Larissa Sansour”
Author: Maryam Shayesteh (Writer for Majara Film School) I view the world of Larissa Sansour's films through a dual lens, embodying the narrative of dualities and the dichotomy of the storyteller. Although she has lived in a different generation and geography, the...
Interviews
RedCut’s interview with Nafiseh Zareh about her short film The Zoo
Film Summary: “Rana, your father is gone forever. From now on, we will live together.” This news is conveyed to six-year-old Rana by her mother at the zoo. The night before, Rana had a dream about a deer that had escaped from the zoo, leaving its cage empty. Nafiseh...
The censorship and other ever tightening restrictions imposed by oppressive and totalitarian regimes, on the one hand, and the influence of global commercial interests, on the other, have for long dimmed the prospects of independent filmmaking in many parts of the Middle East. The RedCut Collective rejects systematic control and various forms of censorship and self-censorship, seeking to provide a platform for independent filmmakers to freely express their ideas. RedCut’s alternative path involves rediscovering, understanding, and engaging with what can only be called a truly collective independent cinema. The focus in this path will be on independent filmmakers who have fought against class, gender, and ethnic oppression, consistently working to expose and challenge structures of suppression and dominance.