Reflections from the Republic of Silence

Few filmmakers have proved more essential in advancing documentary cinema culture than Diana El Jeiroudi and Orwa Nyrabia. The two multi-hyphenate artists (writers, directors, producers, festival organisers and editors) began their journey in Damascus, where they founded a production house (Proaction Film) and a film festival (DOX BOX) to nurture the vibrant community of documentary filmmakers across the Arab region. As the war forced them to relocate to Berlin, they founded a new production company, No Nation Films, and have kept working in exile for more than a decade. In this open and candid conversation, the duo reflects on their journey as filmmakers and creative partners, sharing insights into their international and regional projects. They discuss their introspective and constantly evolving sense of space and belonging, as well as the intersection of the personal and the political in cinema. Finally, they reflect on their 2021 film, Republic of Silence, a deeply personal cinematic memoir and a layered meditation on the dimensions of exile.