A Letter From the Ashes

New York Premiere

Director   Raghed Charabaty
Country   Canada, Lebanon
Year   2022
Languages   English
Genre   Documentary, Experimental
Running Time   11 min

A rough and raw letter on what it means to lose the love of close ones at the expense of finding freedom. This short film is an essay on love, anger and fraud.

TW: The film references conversion therapy experiences.

This film is part of Shorts: The Bright Sides program.

Director’s Statement

One day, we all grow out of who we were as a child and into who we have become as an adult. Sometimes, unfortunately, this journey comes at the expense of relinquishing the very past that has held us back. When you spend your life with the philosophy that you are sick for being 'too this or that', you either succumb, or you rebel. A Letter From the Ashes is narrated from the POV of someone who has hit rock bottom and lost it all. But now, they have nothing left to lose... and so, a journey of self-forgiveness and discovery begins, risen from the ashes.

Director’s Bio

Raghed Charabaty (they/them)

Raghed Charabaty is a Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker whose work has screened and won at TIFF: Canada’s Top Ten, FNC among others. They are currently a fellow at the Canadian Film Centre’s Director Lab 2023, and hold a Masters in Film from York University 2019. Charabaty’s work explores euphoric tragedy, surrealism, and unusual romance. They are an alumnus of the Netflix-BANFF Pitch Program, the WarnerBros x BIPOC TV&Film Writer’s Lab 2022, and a two-time recipient of the SSHRC Award in Honor of Nelson Mandela.