In this episode of Outline, we're joined by author, illustrator, and film producer Marya Zarif, who's known for her animated works that highlight Syrian narratives. The conversation delves into her background, motivations for creating the award-winning Syrian animated series and films Dounia and "Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo," and the emotional impact these works have on audiences. Zarif shares insights on her creative process, the significance of portraying Syrian culture, and the challenges faced as an Arab – and particularly Syrian – creator. The episode also touches on the broader issues of Syrian visibility in media and the responsibility of storytelling in fostering empathy and understanding.
00:00 Introduction
02:11 Dounia: A Syrian Tale
04:21 Creating Dounia
08:42 The Significance of Food and Culture
12:12 Audience Reception and Impact
15:15 The Mission of a Storyteller
18:46 Creating Content for Children
21:23 The Creative Process
24:12 Collaboration and Challenges
25:43 Character Development Process
26:32 From Series to Movie: The Journey
29:10 Challenges in Creating Series vs Movies
30:42 Impact of Syrian Crisis on Art
38:25 Syrian Identity and Cultural Representation
43:44 Dounia and the Great White North: A Sequel
45:48 Final Thoughts and Where to Follow
Marya Zarif is a Syrian-born author, illustrator, screenwriter, and director with a passion for animated storytelling. In 2020, she created and co-directed the youth web series Dounia, which led to her award-winning debut feature "Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo." The film premiered at Annecy and has since received international acclaim. Zarif is also the author-illustrator of two Dounia books and is currently developing new films set for release in 2025 and 2027.
Connect with Zarif 👉 https://www.instagram.com/maryazarif/
Hosted by Sabine Boghossian 👉 https://www.instagram.com/sabineboghossian/
Hosted by: Sabine Boghossian 👉 https://www.instagram.com/sabineboghossian/
& Omar Thawabeh 👉 https://www.instagram.com/omarthawabeh/
Sabine Boghossian is a multidisciplinary creative who dives headfirst into anything that captures her curiosity. Born and bred in a multicultural household in Aleppo, Syria, she has spent the last decade balancing her life between Beirut and Brussels. Her passion for food and sensitivity to language fuel her diverse practice, which spans scenography, design, and copywriting on subjects as varied as food, architecture, and identity. She recently launched "yurs" a line of repairable leather goods in the form of DIY kits.
Omar Thawabeh is a Beirut-based translator, writer and the co-host of afikra's Outline podcast. His translations and essays were published in Bidayat, The Public Source, Oasis, among other platforms and magazines. In 2023, his Arabic translation of Lamia Ziadé’s graphic novel "Bye Bye Babylone" was published by Mauzoun.
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