The Beirut Art Film Festival (BAFF), in collaboration with the AUB Archaeological Museum, is organizing “Saving Yemen’s Cultural Heritage” on March 18 at 7:00 PM at Bathish Auditorium. Through screenings and discussions, experts such as Salma Samar Damluji and Brent E. Huffman will explore Yemen’s history, architecture and the challenges surrounding its cultural preservation.
The 2025 edition of the Beirut Art Film Festival (BAFF), in collaboration with the American University of Beirut (AUB) Archaeological Museum, highlights Yemen’s rich cultural heritage through an evening of film screenings and discussions titled “Saving Yemen’s Cultural Heritage.” Scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, at 7:00 PM at AUB’s Bathish Auditorium, the event will bring together filmmakers, researchers and experts to examine the country’s historical and architectural treasures and the threats they face.
The program offers an in-depth exploration of Yemen’s cultural and architectural wealth while addressing the dangers looming over its heritage. Through documentary films and expert discussions, attendees will gain insight into the efforts to preserve this unique legacy amid modernization and conflict.
Close up on Films and Discussions
The Walls of Sana’a – Pier Paolo Pasolini (1971, 15 min, Italian with English subtitles)
In this short film, Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini unveils the architectural treasures of Sana’a, threatened by time, degradation and the encroachment of consumerism. Shot as an urgent plea, the documentary became a powerful call for UNESCO to safeguard the city.
The Collapse of Yemen – Talk in Arabic by Khairallah Khairallah
Journalist and writer Khairallah Khairallah has closely observed Yemen’s turmoil since 1986. In his book Yemen Fires: Inside Stories, he provides a deep analysis of the country’s political scene and the numerous conflicts that have led to its collapse. His talk will shed light on Yemen’s recent history and its ongoing struggles.
Yemeni Architecture: Culture in Post-Conflict – Discussion in English with Salma Samar Damluji and Vladimir Djurovic
Salma Samar Damluji, renowned architect and expert in traditional Arab architecture, has spent over two decades studying Yemen’s earthen-built heritage. Her research, compiled in several publications, highlights the reconstruction efforts in regions like Hadramaut. She will be joined by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic to discuss the future of Yemeni architecture in a post-conflict context.
Yemen Mosaic – Film excerpts and discussion in English with Brent E. Huffman
Brent E. Huffman, award-winning documentary filmmaker and professor at Northwestern University, has been working on a feature film since 2022 about efforts to save Yemen’s cultural heritage. Yemen Mosaic showcases restoration projects in Shibam, Taiz and Dhamar, where local experts, many of whom are women, document and protect their heritage against looting, climate change and war.
This initiative highlights the fragility of Yemen’s heritage while celebrating its resilience through art and scientific expertise.
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