Sundance Film Festival 2021 | International Film Festival of Rotterdam 2021 | Vancouver International Film Festival 2021
Truer Than Fiction Award, Independent Spirit Awards 2022 | Grierson Award - Documentary Film, BFI London Film Festival 2021
Faya Dayi explores the traditions and trade surrounding khat, a stimulant leaf widely used in Ethiopia. Blending documentary and drama, the film follows people who chew khat for spiritual comfort, social connection and escape from difficult lives. Once linked to Sufi traditions, khat has become part of everyday life across communities. For many unemployed and struggling people, the temporary high offers a space where their hopes and dreams can survive.
Jessica Beshir is a Mexican-Ethiopian filmmaker based in Brooklyn. Her short films screened at Sundance, Hot Docs, IDFA and Tribeca. Supported by Sundance, Doha and Jerome foundations, she made her feature debut with Faya Dayi.
Mubi
