Farida: Defying Darkness in the Shadow of ISIS

Production Details

Title: Farida: The Girl Who Beat Isis

Format: Feature Film

Production Begins: Active Development

Producer: Nicholas Crum, Belén González Blanco, Beatriz Levin, Lloyd Levin, Danny Page

Writer/Producer: Amie Arbuckle, Colin Hudock

Writer: Lauren Hynek, Elizabeth Martin

Director: Hassan Nazer

PM: Hajar Belkasmi

Cast: Bayan Layla

CD: Emrah Ertem

Synopsis: In August 2014, Farida Khalaf was just a normal Yazidi girl, living in a village high in the mountains of northern Iraq. Then her village was attacked and swiftly taken by ISIS fighters, and her whole world changed. The jihadists murdered the men and the boys of her village, including her father and brothers, before taking Farida prisoner along with the rest of the women. This is the story of what happened to Farida after she was captured: the beatings, the rapes, the markets where ISIS sold their female prisoners like cattle, and Farida’s realization that the more difficult and resistant she became, the harder it was for her captors to continue their atrocities against her. So she struggled, she bit, she kicked, she accused her captors of going against their religion, and then, one day, the door to her room was left unlocked. She took her chance along with 5 other women, and set out across the Syrian desert.

About Farida: The Girl Who Beat Isis

In August 2014, Farida Khalaf was living a quiet life in a Yazidi village in northern Iraq. This changed abruptly when ISIS militants attacked, resulting in the loss of her family and her subsequent capture. During her imprisonment, Farida faced brutal treatment and witnessed horrific acts against fellow women, but she also found ways to resist and survive amidst the violence. One pivotal moment came when she realized that her defiance weakened her captors’ control over her. This insight fueled her determination, leading to her eventual escape with a group of women across the perilous Syrian desert. Farida’s story sheds light on the resilience of those who endure unimaginable situations.