Independent Lens
Camp Widow
At Camp Widow, every attendee, volunteer, speaker, and staff member has lost their partner; together they find camaraderie and unexpected joy.
My Sweet Land
For 11-year-old Vrej, life in his homeland, Artsakh, seems like a paradise. But when war starts again, can he carry a nation's hopes on his young shoulders?
- Length
- 90 minutes
- Funding Initiative
- Open Call
Producer/Director
Sareen Hairabedian
Sareen Hairabedian is an Armenian American documentary filmmaker and founder of HAI Creative production company. She made her directorial debut with We Are Not Done Yet, an HBO short documentary about U.S. veterans who use poetry to battle their traumas. For her first feature, she has received support from ARTE, IDA, CNC, and others.
Producer
Azza Hourani
Jordanian producer Azza Hourani obtained her degree in producing in 2011 from the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts. She has 15 years of experience working with regional and international institutions and is currently producing two feature documentaries, both endorsed by IDA, Screen Ireland, ARTE, IDFA, and others.
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The Film
My Sweet Land is a coming-of-age story set against a multigenerational war in the post-Soviet Caucasus Mountains. The film follows an 11-year-old boy named Vrej, growing up in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), who dreams of becoming a dentist in his picturesque village with its roaming ducks and golden bees. The land, however, is strewn with mines from previous wars, reflecting the country’s unrecognized status. Vrej’s life takes a sudden turn when war erupts, forcing him to flee with his family. He spends his days in exile waiting for victory, but the Armenians lose the war. Upon returning to his surviving village, he confronts the devastation, new power dynamics, and education that prepares children for future battles. Vrej must learn the rules of war, but can he carry a nation’s hopes on his young shoulders? The film is a testament to the people of Artsakh, where hope and trauma shaped their resilience across generations.
