ZUHUR´S DAUGHTERS
Feature Film
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, Directed: Laurentia Genske, Robin Humboldt
Cinematography: Laurentia Genske, Robin Humboldt
Editing: Carina Mergens
Sound Design, Sound Mix: Robert Keilbar
Colour Grading: Felix Hüsken
Production: 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 broadcasting 3sat: 07.11.2022 & 23.07.2024
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Festivals / Awards
2025 - Goethe Institute Los Angeles
2024 - Cinema Queer Mexico, Festival de Cine
2024 - lit.Cologne
2023 - Orgullo Ciclo de Cine Europeo LGTBIQ+
2023 - Ciclo de Cinema Alemão
2023 - Queer Movie Nights at Trianon Cinema
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 - Muestra de Cine Int. Memoria Verdad Justicia
2022 - Dialogues Festival Kalkutta, Opening Film
2022 - Chennai International Queer Film Festival
2022 - Mezipatra Queer Film Festival, Prague
2022 - Das Filmfest, Prague, Brünn, Olmütz
2022 - DocsMX, Mexiko
2022 - Gender Borders Film Festival, Mailand
2022 - MakeDox, North Macedonia
2022 - EU Asia Documentary Festival
2022 - AMOR Festival Chile / Int. Featue Film Award
2022 - Shortlisted, Lola, Deutscher Filmpreis
2022 - Nomination Deutscher Dokumentarfilmpreis
2022 - liberTÜ Documentary Film Festival
2022 - Media Festival Man in Danger, Poland
2021 - Queer Filmfest Tübingen
2021 - DOK.fest Munich / VIKTOR DOK.deutsch
2021 - OUTshine Film Festival, Fort Lauderdale
2021 - Porn Film Festival Berlin
2021 - Queergestreift Festival
2021 - Film Festival Cologne
2021 - RIDM Festival Quebec, Canada
2021 - Duisburger Filmwoche
2021 - Filmkunstmesse München
2021 - Kasseler Dokfest
2021 - Queer Filmfest Weiterstadt
2021 - 31. Lodz Pl Festival, Poland
2021 - Hotdocs, Toronto