What Walaa WantS
89 MINUTES | 2018 | CANADA DENMARK | ARABIC | FULL SUBTITLES
WINNER Hot Docs 2018 DGC Special Jury Prize - Canadian Feature Documentary
NOMINEE Canadian Screen Awards 2019 Best Editing in a Feature Length Documentary
NOMINEE Canadian Screen Awards 2019 TED ROGERS BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY AWARD
NOMINEE Berlin International Film Festival 2018 Crystal Bear Generation 14plus - Best Film
NOMINEE Berlin International Film Festival 2018 Glasshütte Original Documentary Award
NOMINEE Cork International Film Festival 2018 Cinematic Documentary Award
NOMINEE Edinburgh International Film Festival 2018 Audience Award
NOMINEE Sofia International Film Festival 2019 Award For Best Documentary
Raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank while her mother was in prison, Walaa dreams of becoming a policewoman in the Palestinian Security Forces (PSF). Despite discouragement from her family, even her beloved brother Mohammed, Walaa applies and gets in. But her own rebellious behaviour and complicated relationship with her mother are challenging, as are the circumstances under which she lives.
Following Walaa from 15-21, with an intimate POV, What Walaa Wants is the compelling story of a defiant young girl navigating formidable obstacles, learning which rules to break and follow, and disproving the negative predictions from her surroundings and the world at large.
Director: Christy Garland
Producers: Anne Köhncke, Matt Code, Christy Garland, Justine Pimlott
Co-Editor: Michael Aaglund