WuWD@ DOK Leipzig 2022 - Jihan El Tahri - “Jihan & Toni Talk Archives”
May 20, 2022
During this conversation, I speak with the filmmaker, archivist, and the artistic director of Dox Box, Jihan El Tahri about the manifesto, “Liberate the Image.” The manifesto was a call to action to make archives more accessible to content creators living in the Global South. During the conversation we discussed:
Archival preservation of assets of those who are part of the Global Majority
Who gets to monetize archives and when does monetization make access to historical assets prohibitive
The role archivists play in the preservation of history and limitations due to limited staff, storage capacity, and adequate facilities.
Access to non-commercial archives such as museums, community organizations, and individuals
Licensing struggles across the borders
Photo Credit: Taz.de
[Image Description: Jihan is pictured from the chest up. She wears a white cotton long-sleeved shirt with a blue design on the shoulders. She wears a necklace with large beads Her curly hair rests on her shoulders.]
Jihan’s Bio
Jihan El Tahri is an award-winning director, screenwriter, visual artist, and producer. She is currently the Managing Director of the Berlin-based documentary support institution DOX BOX. El Tahri is a member of the Academy (Oscars) since 2017 and a member of the Locarno Film Festival selection committee. She has directed more than 15 films and her visual art exhibitions have been shown in renowned museums and several Biennales around the world. Her writings include "The Seven Lives of Yasser Arafat" (Grasset) and "Israel and the Arabs, the 50-year war" (Penguin). She continues to be a mentor in various documentary and filmmaking labs. El Tahri has served on the boards of several African film organizations, including FEPACI (Federation of Pan-African Cinema) and the Guild of African Filmmakers in the Diaspora.
About The Manifesto “Liberate the Image”
The Manifesto “Liberate The Image” is the outcome of 2 years of meetings within the framework of the Documentary Convention organized by DOX BOX e.V., Berlin together with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture and other international partners. A group of filmmakers, academics, and audiovisual practitioners met and discussed the urgencies facing access to visual memories and how to establish best practices for the preservation of the audiovisual heritage within the Arab world and the Global South.
About DoxBox
DOX BOX is a nonprofit institution for support and training in documentary filmmaking. Based in Berlin since 2014, with one foot in Europe and the other in the Arab/African region, we propose carefully designed programs targeting diversity, skills transfer, and alternative visual perspectives. Our mission is to support distinct and singular voices from the region to ensure that a vibrant, ever-growing, and inclusive space for documentary filmmaking continues to thrive.
Websites & Social Media
NYU’s Guide to Indigenous Land & Territorial Acknowledgments for Cultural Institutions
