The movie
Memories in a Frame: Kora – Upshot
The short films Kora and Upshot together form the program Memories in a Frame. Kora presents five intimate portraits of female refugees.
Length: 61 min
Country: Palestina, Portugal
Language spoken: Oekraïens, Perzisch, Arabisch, Russisch (Kora) / Arabisch (Upsho
Language subtitles: Nederlands / Engels
Cast: LANA ALKOUSE, ZOHRA GHADR ALZAMAN, INNA KLOCHKO (KORA) / MOHAMMAD, BAKRIAMER,
HLEHELAREEN OMARI (UPSHOT)
Director: Cláudia | Maha Varejão | Haj
Release date: 14/10/2025
Description
The MOOOV Film Festival opened this year for the first time with a program of two powerful short films under the title Memories in a Frame: Kora – Upshot. Both films left a deep impression on the audience. The opening proved that short films can quickly convey complex emotions, layered narratives, and urgent social themes. Cinecitta is proud to present Memories in a Frame: Kora – Upshot at 013IFF—marking its Dutch premiere.
Kora
Kora presents five intimate portraits of female refugees. The film’s ending transitions seamlessly into part two, Upshot, which leaves you speechless with its intelligently choreographed scenes.
Five women who fled their countries now live in Portugal. Through photographs and personal objects, they reveal their stories, memories, and the reasons they were forced to leave their homelands.
Kora is a mysterious work that leaves a lasting impression—just like the photographs that propel the story forward. Visually, this contemporary black-and-white film captivates with its subtlety, while its carefully crafted soundscape adds another rich layer. Kora is a poetic reflection on loss, belonging, and the power of silence.
Upshot
Suleiman and Lubna live on a remote farm. They tend to their chickens and olive trees. Over dinner, they talk about their five children: Bassel, Oumaya, Hamza, Tarik, and Khaled. One day, a journalist arrives to interview them.
With a simple plot and a restrained yet powerful visual style, Upshot manages to shake your world to its core. Every scene is carefully composed, contributing to an emotional impact that is rarely so profoundly achieved. Upshot director Maha Haj is no stranger; in 2023, her earlier film Mediterranean Fever was screened at the 013 International Film Festival.
Kora
Kora presents five intimate portraits of female refugees. The film’s ending transitions seamlessly into part two, Upshot, which leaves you speechless with its intelligently choreographed scenes.
Five women who fled their countries now live in Portugal. Through photographs and personal objects, they reveal their stories, memories, and the reasons they were forced to leave their homelands.
Kora is a mysterious work that leaves a lasting impression—just like the photographs that propel the story forward. Visually, this contemporary black-and-white film captivates with its subtlety, while its carefully crafted soundscape adds another rich layer. Kora is a poetic reflection on loss, belonging, and the power of silence.
Upshot
Suleiman and Lubna live on a remote farm. They tend to their chickens and olive trees. Over dinner, they talk about their five children: Bassel, Oumaya, Hamza, Tarik, and Khaled. One day, a journalist arrives to interview them.
With a simple plot and a restrained yet powerful visual style, Upshot manages to shake your world to its core. Every scene is carefully composed, contributing to an emotional impact that is rarely so profoundly achieved. Upshot director Maha Haj is no stranger; in 2023, her earlier film Mediterranean Fever was screened at the 013 International Film Festival.
