CH-10. Soufra

Singapore/USA/Lebanon, Feature Documentary, 2017, 73 min

Soufra follows the unlikely and highly inspirational story of entrepreneur Mariam Shaar, a third-generation refugee who spent her entire life in the huge Burj El Barajneh camp in Lebanon. The film follows Shaar as she sets out to launch a catering company, “Soufra” (Arab for feast), then works to expand it into a food truck business with the help of Kickstarter. Shaar is breaking barriers, pulling together Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian and Lebanese women from the camp, each with delicious recipes from home, to work side by side and form beautiful friendships while running the thriving business. There are many nervous and exciting firsts for these women—a first visit to a farmer's market, a first movie in a theater (The Chef), first driving lessons, first professional cooking lessons—and their excitement builds throughout the two years covered in this film. With this documentary, Shaar has become a hero to women across the Arab world. Subtitled.

Directed by Thomas Morgan

Colorado Premiere

A Call2Action selection