by Sonya Imin, ULB

Join the inaugural screening of "I Am Here" followed by a discussion with filmmaker Sonya Imin facilitated by the director of MSH, Vanessa Frangville.

"I Am Here" is a documentary film following relational dynamics on one of the first Uyghur films to be produced outside the homeland. In the summer of 2021, a French film crew has just arrived in Central Asia to begin shooting Nikah. Guzel, the lead actress and a trained circus performer, arrives from Sweden and begins rehearsals under the guidance of the director, Mukaddas. Following Guzel and Mukaddas from rehearsals, to shooting on set, to where they've ended up three years later, this documentary examines the complexities of identity, loss, and what it means to be Uyghur.

Sonya Imin is an Uyghur American doctoral researcher and multi-disciplinary creative. Based at ULB, her academic work explores how transformations in Uyghur exile are being negotiated through visual art and contemporary creative culture. Combining academic research and documentary filmmaking, she focuses on how diasporic identities are being articulated, how cultural shifts are being heightened by the realities of exile and genocide, and what narratives are being addressed through Uyghur creative arts. In addition to her academic work, Sonya has participated in exhibits and creative projects across North America, Europe, and Central Asia. "I Am Here" is her debut film.

Tuesday 10th December 2024, from 6 pm until 8.30 pm

Venue : Maison des arts, salle de projection, avenue Jeanne 36

Registration by email : east@ulb.be