Daoud Sarhandi
Editing
Biography
Daoud Sarhandi is an award-winning British film editor and sound designer. He is also a director of photography, producer and director/writer. During the 1980s and 90s, he worked in London with influential British documentary filmmakers: most notably the legendary documentary producer Paul Watson. The majority of the films he cut during this period were for the BBC and Channel Four Television. In 2004, in Mexico, he started an ongoing collaboration with the filmmaker Carolina Rivas. Together -- under the banner of their production company Creadores Contemporáneos -- they have produced three low-budget feature-length films: The Colour of Olives (2006), Lessons for Zafirah (2011) and 1 for 1 (2013). All three films have enjoyed considerable international success, winning a total of 15 prizes in the United States, Mexico, Cuba, Russia, Belgium, Spain and France. Videovalores (2015 to present) -- Rivas and Sarhandi's short film project dealing with universal values -- has so far produced more than 50 free-form films in Barcelona and Berlin; all of them are co-produced and edited by Sarhandi. He is currently writing ABC of Film & Video Editing; it will be published in 2025.
Known For
A humorous documentary on the making of Alex Cox's punk biopic SID AND NANCY. Features exclusive behind the scenes production and commentaries from Alex Cox, Gary Oldman, Chloe Webb, David Hayman, Eric Fellner and more...
England's Glory
Like many Palestinian families, the Amers live surrounded by the infamous West Bank Wall where their daily lives are dominated by electrified fences, locks and a constant swarm of armed soldiers. Through director Carolina Rivas' sensitive lens, we discover the private world of all eight members of the family. As their dramas unfold, we catch a glimpse of their constant struggles and the small, endearing details that sustain them, including olive trees, two small donkeys and their many friendships. Constructed with a combination of verité scenes and re-enactments, this poignant and richly crafted film offers its audience a much needed opportunity to reflect on the effects of racial segregation, the meaning of borders and the absurdity of war
The Colour of Olives
An extraordinary black comedy that explores the limits of survival and absurdist political power games. The story takes place in times of elections in Mexico. A candidate for Governor runs over a pregnant migrant. After the accident, and to avoid a possible scandal, he hides her in a building he owns. Pressured by his political boss and so as not to ruin his political career, the candidate evicts the migrant. In a non-realistic style, the film focuses on the stories that surround the migrant during her search for a room. A radical film, with a critical gaze, that reflects the spirit of contemporary Mexican society.
1 For 1
A metaphor of the Flood in our times, The Flood is the rain of violence that washes over us. Noah´s Ark is the train that runs through Mexico toward the United States and migrants are the species attempting to save their lives. For the directors, cinema moves people not just by condemnation, but by confronting and fostering emotions which lead to new, constructive ideas. This documentary became a cinematographic diary for their first viewer, their three-year-old daughter, Zafirah.