12 Jun “More Than A Father” wins IEFTA Awards €2,000 Cash Prize at Close Up Pitching Forum
IEFTA, represented by Director of the Global Film Expression Initiative and IEFTA Partnerships, Lianne Llewellyn and on behalf of the IEFT Foundation awarded a cash prize of €2,000 development grant to Ali Haider for his project More than a Father at this year’s Close Up Pitching Forum held on 3-9 June 2024.
Ali Haider
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
Ali Haider, a member of the Hazara ethnic minority, survived a suicide bomb blast that tragically took his father’s life. Transitioning from short documentaries, he is now directing his first feature non-fiction film, “More Than a Father,” which chronicles his mother’s journey. Haider’s work reflects both his personal resilience and his commitment to storytelling.
More Than a Father follows the journey of Ali Haider, a Hazara survivor of a genocidal bomb blast in 2010 that took his father, Raza. A decade later, Ali and his grieving mother, Sughra, embark on a pilgrimage to shia holy sites in Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Sughra carries with her an unopened diary containing the tender exchanges between her and her husband Raza, believing that his soul now resides in these sacred places.
Ali documents their spiritual quest with his camera, hoping to bring solace to his distraught mother and find healing for himself. This Film is a deeply personal journey that underlines the force of resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of belief, showing that even in the darkest of times, hope and healing are possible.