Tamer Ashry

Bio

Tamer Ashry is a director, producer, script-writer, and DP with over ten years of experience working in film and television in Egypt and the Middle East. His specialties are documentary, fiction film, reality TV and commercials. He is passionate about creating media that will have a social impact. His work has been screened at numerous international film festivals addressing issues such as sexual harassment, state violence (in The Morgue), daily life in Palestine (Pictures of Gaza), and the women’s fight for peace (Trials of Spring). His films have also been featured on several international TV channels including Al-Jazeera, BBC, and MBC. He has partnered with organizations such as the UN to create award-winning campaigns for human rights, gender equality, and child abuse.

Reflection

I loved doing this shoot. When i heard about Sacred I was interested in filming because I love the idea of seeing so many different sacred rituals across cultures and traditions. There is something universal about what we worship and hold sacred, and yet its form can be so diverse, unique, beautiful – so rich!

For this shoot it was tricky because the adhan is sung within a couple hours after the baby is born. I had 4 pregnant mothers lined up. I found them on facebook through friends of friends 🙂 I was on call, ready with equipment for a few days, waiting for them to give birth. I thought they might be camera shy at such an intimate time, but to the contrary, they were so welcoming and happy to share this experience with the world. At first, the baby was crying and everyone was a little nervous, but as soon as the father started to sing she calmed down.

It was so moving being part of this sacred moment which has a lot of meaning in Islam. It felt like she was really listening. Singing the call to prayer to a baby is almost like orienting them to what is important as they start their life. There are of course different interpretations but I sense it is a way of connecting the newborn to their spiritual life in these first precious moments – to mark the beginning of our journey towards finding Allah or God… which is perhaps why we were given life in the first place:)