'The Translator' takes viewers inside the Syrian Revolution

• Link to: Northwestern Now Story

“The Translator,” a film about the journey of a political refugee who risks everything to rescue his brother from the Assad regime in Syria, will be screened next Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 3 p.m. CDT at the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs at Northwestern University.

While no spaces remain for the in-person event, there is still time to register to watch a special screening from Nov. 14-17 and join the virtual panel discussion taking place Nov. 17, from 5 to 6:15 p.m. CDT.

Award-winning director Rana Kazkaz is an assistant professor of communication in residence at Northwestern Qatar and is also the Roberta Buffett Visiting Professor of International Studies in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Program of Middle Eastern and North African Studies. Kazkaz’s films have been recognized at the world’s leading film festivals including Cannes, Sundance and Toronto.

“Receiving the Roberta Buffett Visiting Professorship has been one of the greatest honors of my career," Kazkaz said. "I’m grateful for the kindness and generosity of everyone at the Institute. Screening the film for this community is an honor.”

“The Translator” has been selected in numerous international festivals and will be distributed internationally in late 2021. Kazkaz is a member of the Académie des César.

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion which will include Simon Adams, Wendy Pearlman and Zayd Dohrn.

Simon Adams is the president and chief executive officer of the Center for Victims of Torture. Before joining the Center for Victims of Torture, he was the executive director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. He has worked closely with human rights defenders and civil society organizations in Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Venezuela and numerous other conflict zones.

Wendy Pearlman is professor of political science at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on the comparative politics of the Middle East, social movements, political violence, refugees and migration, emotions and mobilization, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. She is the author of “We Crossed a Bridge and it Trembled: Voices from Syria,” which is based on interviews that she conducted with more than 300 displaced Syrians in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the United States.

Zayd Dohrn a playwright, professor and co-director of the MFA in Writing for Screen and Stage in the Department of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University. Dohrn’s plays include “The Profane” (Playwrights Horizons), “Outside People” (The Vineyard/Naked Angels), “Want” (Steppenwolf First Look), and “Reborning” (The Public/ Summer Play Festival).