Women were on the front lines of the uprisings that swept the Arab world in 2011. Young and old, rich and poor, veiled and unveiled, they took to the streets alongside men, their signs held high or hands cupped over their mouths to amplify their voices. But as the jubilation of revolution gave way to the convoluted process of governing—and in the cases of Libya, Syria and Yemen, the flames, chaos
and blood of war—women disappeared from the mainstream story. Behind the scenes, however, they continue to play vital roles—keeping schools open and mouths fed, tending to the sick and injured, keeping the world informed through blogs and social media, lobbying for human rights, running for office, building alliances, even drafting constitutions for fledgling democracies. THE TRIALS OF SPRING is a multimedia initiative that aims to elevate the stories of these women. The project includes six web-based short films profiling women from Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, a feature documentary focused on Egypt and an extensive outreach campaign that will bring these stories to stakeholders, educators and grassroots organizations around the world. The short films will be presented episodically on www.trialsofspring.com as well as partner sites and on social media beginning in January 2015. The feature film, currently in post-production, follows three women: Hend Nafea, a young religious Muslim from the countryside who is now facing a likely jail sentence for her role in the uprisings; Mariam Kirollos, a young, urban Christian who has long been passionate about women’s rights; and Khadiga Hennawi, a formerly veiled widow in her 60s who earned the nickname “Mama K” for assuming the role of caretaker of the revolutionaries. These women’s intersecting personal and political journeys over the last nearly four years are emblematic of the experience of women across the region, and their stories illuminate the vital – and often underreported – role women play in shaping its future. The film is intended for festival and theatrical release in 2015, to be followed by an anticipated U.S. THE TRIALS OF SPRING is created by Abigail Disney and Gini Reticker, the team behind the award-winning documentary PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL and Executive Producers of the PBS special series WOMEN, WAR & PEACE. The production and post-production team is comprised of top American and local crews whose credits include The Square, We Are the Giant, Bully and Watchers of the Sky. Together, they have gained unparalleled access to capture untold stories as events unfold. They are profoundly committed to providing women of the region a major international platform to share what they have to say. It is time for the world to listen.
