Hijra

Twelve-year-old Janna sets off for Mecca with her strict grandmother, Sitti, and rebellious sister, Sarah, to perform Hajj. But before they reach their destination, Sarah vanishes — forcing Janna and Sitti into a tense, urgent search. Fearing Sarah’s father will find out, Sitti and Janna push themselves to the limit, desperate to uncover why Sarah disappeared. Their journey spans from southern Saudi Arabia to its northern borders, crossing old pilgrimage routes and confronting strangers, harsh landscapes, and long-buried family secrets. As they grow closer, Janna begins to unravel stories from Sitti’s rich and complex past. The search reveals deep intergenerational rifts among the women in their family. And as their difficult journey begins to echo the spiritual trials of Hajj, Janna and Sitti may find something greater than reconciliation — redemption.

Hijra is a deeply personal film, rooted in a story I’ve long wanted to tell — one that reflects the lived experiences of many in Saudi Arabia but is rarely seen on screen. Set during Hajj, one of the most sacred and transformative journeys in the Muslim world, the film explores how this pilgrimage reshapes not just cities like Mecca and Jeddah, but also sparks inner change. Through Janna, on the brink of womanhood, and Sitti’s quiet strength, we see evolving family dynamics and personal growth. Their journey mirrors the physical and emotional terrain of Saudi Arabia — from Mecca’s sacred paths to Tabuk’s snow-capped mountains. With Hijra, I wanted to capture the quiet revolutions of women in motion and explore how freedom is understood across generations and time. It’s a reflection on what freedom means for women in the Kingdom — told through my lens.

PRODUCTION 1:
Bite Ameen - Mohamed Jabarah Al-daradji
3769 Muhammed Bin Zaiyd
23322 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 0538881375 / +44 07729101257
E-mail: mohamed@humanfilm.co.uk
Web: http://www.humanfilm.co.uk

PRODUCTION 2:
Iraqi Independent Film Center – Mohamed Jabarah Al-daradji
34 Al-Rashied Street
4321 Baghdad, Iraq
Tel: +964 07727901715
E-mail: mohamed@humanfilm.co.uk
Web: http://www.humanfilm.co.uk

PRODUCTION 3:
Ideation Studios - Faisal Baltyuor, Co-Producers Ayman Jamal and Mohammed Alawi
8878 Abdulwahid Al Laghawi
23814 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 555502535
E-mail: m.alawi@ideationpic.com
Web: http://www.ideationpic.com
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/idea_on.studios?igsh=djFmcTNnY3FwZWJm – Instagram

OTHER PRODUCTIONS:
Film Clinic - Co-Producers Mohamed Hefzy;
Red Sea Fund, an initiative of the Red Sea International Film Festival & Film Alula;
Ex-Producer Emad Eskander;
Human Fil - Co-Producers Ali Atia Jabarah Al-daradji;
Abboud Ayyach - Three Arts;
Abdullah Naser Al-Qahtani - Daw Film - Film Commission | MOC;
Supported By Daw' Film - Film Commission | Moc Executive Producer Abdullah Al-Eyaf;
NEOM ‘Filmed on location at NEOM’ Supported by NEOM Media’;
Ithra Film Fund;
Ahmed Al-Mulla - Noon Art Media Production

PRESS OFFICE:
Brigitta Portier - Alibi Communications
E-mail: brigittaportier@alibicommunications.be