my father and qaddafi holds memorable arab world premiere at doha film festival

Jihan’s documentary MY FATHER AND QADDAFI held its Arab world premiere at the Doha Film Festival (November 20th-28th), marking a significant regional moment for a film that has already drawn international attention. The screening was followed by a thoughtful Q&A with the filmmaker; her mother, Baha Al Omary; and her brother Rashid Kikhia, all of whom reflected on the personal and political journeys behind the film.

Jihan’s MY FATHER AND QADDAFI follows a daughter as she unravels the disappearance of her father, the opposition leader to Qaddafi, and pieces together her mother’s 19-year search to find him. Without any memory of her father, she tries to reconnect with him and reconcile with her Libyan identity.

A US and Libyan production, MY FATHER AND QADDAFI held its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival — becoming the first Libyan film in 13 years to do so — and has since screened at numerous film festivals, including Chicago, Middle East Now, and the Arab Film Festival in the US, most recently winning the Valentina Pedicini Award at the MedFilm Festival.

Reflecting on the emotional journey, director Jihan says, “Making this documentary helps me understand the importance of a father figure and the impact of losing a father on a family, a community, and even a country.”

“Despite my fragmented memories, fears, and cultural limitations in Libyan society, I am trying to overcome this surreal experience and reconnect with my father and Libya on my own terms, as an open-hearted woman. This is one of the ways I hope to hold on to my father before he disappears completely from my memory and potentially from Libya’s memory,” she adds.

Featuring Jihan herself, Baha Al Omary, and the late Mansur Rashid Kikhia as main characters, the 88-minute documentary is lensed by Micah Walker and Mike McLaughlin, and edited by Alessandro Dordoni, Chloe Lambourne (of the Oscar-nominated FOR SAMA), and Nicole Halova.

Throughout its production, the film received funding from several international sources, including Quiet, the Doha Film Institute, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, International Documentary Association, CineGouna Funding, International Media Support, Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund, Malmö Arab Film Festival, and the Swedish Film Institute. It also participated in several labs, including Close Up Lab, DFI QUMRA, Durban Filmmart, Between Women Filmmakers Caravan Consultancy, Medimed Euro-Med Doc Market & Pitching Forum, and First Cut Lab.

Jihan earned her BA in International and Comparative Politics, concentrating on Human Rights, Philosophy, and International Law, from the American University of Paris. She holds an MA from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, focusing on art education and storytelling. In 2012, her article ‘Libya, My Father, and I’ was published in Kalimat Magazine: Arab Thought and Culture. Jihan is dedicated to exploring how free expression can serve as a vehicle for empowerment and understanding.