‘My Father and Qaddafi' becomes first Libyan film at Venice in 13 years

Broadcast Pro

6 days ago

Jihan K's debut traces her search for her father, Mansur Kikhia — Libya's former foreign minister, UN ambassador, and peaceful opponent of Qaddafi.
Marking an entry onto the global festival stage, My Father and Qaddafi, the debut feature documentary by Libyan filmmaker Jihan K, will celebrate its world premiere out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, running from August 27 to September 6. The film makes history as the first Libyan title to be featured at Venice in over a decade, offering a deeply personal and political narrative rooted in the country's turbulent history.
Written and directed by Jihan K, the 88-minute documentary unfolds as an emotional investigation into the mysterious disappearance of her father, Mansur Rashid Kikhia, a former Libyan foreign minister, UN ambassador, and vocal non-violent opponent of Muammar Qaddafi's regime. Weaving together archival material, testimonies and personal reflections, the film charts Jihan's search for understanding, memory and identity, as she retraces her mother's nearly two-decade-long pursuit of truth and justice. Though she has no memory of her father, Jihan's journey becomes a way to reconnect with him and confront her fragmented sense of belonging.
Commenting on her film, Jihan K said: 'In my documentary film, My Father and Qaddafi, I delve into the memories of others to create a clearer picture of my father, a man I do not remember. Making this documentary helps me understand the importance of a father figure and the impact of losing a father on a family, a community, and even a country.'
The film is a joint US–Libyan production, produced by Jihan K and Mohamed Soueid, with executive production by Dave Guenette and Sol Guy. Additional producers include Andreas Rocksén and William Johansson Kalén of Laika Film, while Jayson Jackson and Mohamed Siam served as consulting producers. Shahla Karkouti Elms joined the project as associate producer.
Shot by cinematographers Micah Walker and Mike McLaughlin, and edited by Alessandro Dordoni, Nicole Halova and Chloe Lambourne, known for her work on the Oscar-nominated For Sama, the documentary features Jihan K, Baha Sobhi Al Omary and archival appearances of Rashid Mansur Kikhia. Distribution for the Arab-speaking world is being handled by MAD Distribution, with MAD World managing international sales.
Throughout its development, the film attracted support from prominent global institutions, including the Doha Film Institute, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, International Documentary Association, CineGouna, International Media Support, Hot Docs-Blue Ice Docs Fund, Malmö Arab Film Festival, the Swedish Film Institute, and more. It also participated in several international development and pitching labs, such as the Close Up Lab, DFI Qumra, Durban Filmmart and First Cut Lab.
Jihan K, who studied International and Comparative Politics at the American University of Paris and completed her master's at New York University's Gallatin School, has long focused on human rights and storytelling as tools for empowerment. Her 2012 essay, Libya, My Father, and I, published in Kalimat Magazine, presaged the themes that now come to life in her feature debut.