Lohan and Samar are teenagers and transgender. The sisters fled from Syria to Germany together with their family. They live in a refugee home with their mother Zuhur, father Talib, his second wife Shaharazad and nine younger siblings. In their new surroundings, they find themselves in a constant field of cultural tension. Their parents cling to the familiar structures from Syria and live their lives according to the Koran. Lohan and Samar, on the other hand, are torn between their Muslim community and the Western environment that allows them to express their true selves. Initially only in secret, the sisters dare to live out their female identity. The film accompanies them for three years on their forays as well as their transition and search for their own identity. ZUHUR’S DAUGHTERS brings us close to a special family that sticks together despite countless conflicts and hardships.

Documentary / Germany 2021 / 89 min

Language: arabic, kurdish, english, german
Subtitles: german, english

Written and Directed: Laurentia Genske, Robin Humboldt
Cinematography and Sound-Recording: Laurentia Genske, Robin Humboldt
Editor: Carina Mergens
Sound Design and Sound Mix: Robert Keilbar
Colour Correction: Felix Hüsken
Production Managers: Daniela Dieterich, Florian-Malte Fimpel
Commissioning Editor: Katya Mader
Producers: Martin Roelly, Erik Winker, Ümit Uludag
Produced by CORSO Film, In Co-Production with ZDF / 3sat
Funded by: Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Deutscher Filmförderfonds
Theatrical Distribution Company: Camino Filmverleih
World Sales: Goethe Institut

CINEMA RELEASE 04.11.2021

TV RELEASE, 07.11.2022, 22:25 - 23:55, 3sat
TV broadcasting 3sat: 07.11.2022 & 23.07.2024

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Festivals / Awards

2024 - lit.Cologne 

2023 - Orgullo | Ciclo de Cine Europeo LGTBIQ+
2023 - Ciclo de Cinema Alemão "Migração & Perspectivas"
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2023 - Festival CineMA, Mexico

2023 - KinoFest, Greece

2023 - 26th Religion Today Film Festival, Italy

2023 - Queersicht Festival, Bern 

2023 - 22. Deutsche Filmwoche Mexiko 

2023 - TranScreen, Amsterdam 

2023 - Queer Movie Nights Festival, Athens

2023 - NOMINATION CIVIS Media Prize 2023, Category Video I Information

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2022 - Dialogues Festival Kalkutta, Opening Film 

2022 - Chennai International Queer Film Festival, Indien

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2022 - Das Filmfest, Prague, Brünn, Olmütz

2022 - DocsMX, Mexiko 

2022 - Gender Borders Film Festival, Mailand

2022 - MakeDox, International Creative Documentary Film Festival, North Macedonia

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2022 - AMOR Festival Internacional de Cine LGBT+, Chile / WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

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2021 - Queer Filmfest Tübingen

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2021 - Porn Film Festival Berlin

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2021 - 31. Lodz Pl Festival, Poland

2021 - Hotdocs, Toronto