Expanding on the themes of the documentary Places of the Soul, filmmaker Hamida Issa will lead an intimate, guided creative writing workshop for 1833 members. This standalone session is designed not to teach technical filmmaking, but to plant the seeds of narrative preservation.

The workshop addresses a reality unique to our generation in transition. While the Industrial Revolution spanned two centuries, the Gulf has experienced unprecedented change in a fraction of that time. As witnesses to this monumental shift, our generation holds the critical responsibility of preserving our roots. This session is an invitation to pause and return to the places that shaped us, mapping the geography of our memories.

By honouring the quiet resilience and foundational values of our forefathers, we ensure that as the region moves rapidly into the future, our cultural identity remains deeply anchored. Participants leave with a completed, deeply personal piece of writing in a gifted journal, alongside a renewed perspective on their family histories.

More importantly, this workshop acts as a catalyst. The words captured are designed to plant a narrative seed that can bloom into a future film, art project, photo series, or any artistic medium they wish to pursue.

‍