The Orchard Keepers: Screening + Q&A

The Orchard Keepers takes us on a journey into the heart of the Sinai desert. Behind delicate stone walls we meet Dr. Ahmad, the last surviving herbalist trained in the ancient ways of desert healing. But it is Amariya – a fiery naturalist with a robust personality born of both scars and charms – who dominates the tale. Her relationship to the land has transformed her life in unlikely ways. The Orchard Keepers pays homage to her hypnotic, rhythmic, freedom.

Film-maker Bryony Dunne interweaves her personal story of discovery. What began as a short photography trip to focus on the remaining orchards, mutated into a more personal project. A year spent living with the Gabaliya tribe allowed unique insight into the stratified tribal structures and layers of myth that enshroud the mountain region.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Bryony Dunne who will be in conversation with a special guest.

Arabic & English | 2013 | 28 min