My Sweet Land
| My Sweet Land | |
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Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | Sareen Hairabedian |
| Written by | Sareen Hairabedian |
| Produced by |
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| Cinematography | Sareen Hairabedian |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Tigran Hamasyan |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Armenian |
My Sweet Land is a 2024 documentary film written, co-produced, edited and directed by Sareen Hairabedian. It follows 11-year-old Vrej, a boy living in Nagorno-Karabakh whose life takes a sudden turn when war erupts and he is forced to flee.
It had its world premiere at Sheffield DocFest on June 13, 2024.
Premise
Eleven-year-old Vrej lives in Nagorno-Karabakh, and his life takes a sudden turn when the war erupts and he is forced to flee. He later returns, and he must learn the ways of war to defend his homeland.[1]
Production
In 2018, Sareen Hairabedian met Vrej in Nagorno-Karabakh, during a research trip, to meet children of couples who mass married in 2008, in order to populate the region.[2][3] Hairabedian wanted to tell the story through the eyes of a child in order to focus on humanitarian and humane aspects.[4][5]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the Sheffield DocFest on June 13, 2024.[6][7] It also screened at DOC NYC on November 16, 2024 and at CPH:DOX in March 2025.[8][9]
Reception
Oscar submission
In September 2024, Jordan selected the film as the country's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.[10] In November 2024, Jordan withdrew the film for consideration following diplomatic pressure from Azerbaijan.[11][12] Additionally the film was banned in Jordan.[13]
Hairabedian responded by stating: "It’s a film that has documented a place and a life that no longer exists now. Film and documentary art is one of the most important and effective tools to continue telling the truth that has been cleansed, silenced".[14]
Censorship
In April 2025, the University of California, Berkeley, sparked a free-speech controversy after canceling a scheduled screening of the documentary My Sweet Land, which depicts the life of a child in Nagorno-Karabakh. Scheduled for April 24 (Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day), the event was canceled just 24 hours prior by the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center. The university reportedly received demands from the Consulate General of Azerbaijan and government-funded scholarship students to halt the screening, labeling the film "political propaganda."[15] UC Berkeley attributed the cancellation to security concerns and a lack of adequate staffing to manage potential protests, denying that political pressure influenced the decision.[16][17] The move was condemned by the California Armenian Legislative Caucus and civil liberties groups as a violation of academic freedom and an instance of foreign interference on campus. Following months of sustained advocacy, the screening was eventually held at Berkeley Law on September 18, 2025, accompanied by a panel discussion on human rights.[18]
References
- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (April 10, 2024). "EXCLUSIVE: First look at Sareen Hairabedian's documentary My Sweet Land". CineEuropa. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Merin, Jennifer (November 27, 2024). "Sareen Hairabedian talks MY SWEET LAND , Vrej and Authentic Story – Jennifer Merin interviews". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Wissot, Lauren (November 15, 2024). ""Shifting Focus from Political Agendas To the Real Faces of Conflict": Sareen Hairabedian on Her DOC NYC-Premiering My Sweet Land". Filmmaker. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Pan, Sevara (November 11, 2024). "Sareen Hairabedian on Depicting Coming-of-Age During War in 'My Sweet Land'". International Documentary Association. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Saito, Stephen (November 27, 2024). "Sareen Hairabedian on the Many Internal Conflicts of "My Sweet Land"". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "My Sweet Land". Sheffield DocFest. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Carey, Matthew (May 28, 2024). "A Boy Deals With Consequences Of War In 'My Sweet Land': Watch Trailer For Film Premiering At Sheffield DocFest". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "My Sweet Land". DOC NYC. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "My Sweet Land". CPH DOX. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (September 25, 2024). "Oscars: Jordan Selects Doc 'My Sweet Land' For International Feature Film Race". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Nayyar, Rhea (November 13, 2024). "Jordan Withdraws Artsakh Film From Oscars, Citing "Diplomatic Pressures"". Hyperallergic. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie; Carey, Matthew (November 8, 2024). "Jordan Drops 'My Sweet Land' As Its Oscar Entry For Best International Feature, "Due To Diplomatic Pressures"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (November 15, 2024). "'My Sweet Land' Team on Their Doc Being Pulled as Jordan's Oscar Entry Due to Pressure From Azerbaijan: 'This Means That Censorship and Silencing Can Win'". Variety. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Avedian, Lillian (November 20, 2024). "My Sweet Land team determined to reach global audiences". The Armenian Weekly. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "UC Berkeley Human Rights Center Cancels Film Screening on Genocide Remembrance Day". The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. April 26, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
- ^ "Human Rights Center response to our postponement of "My Sweet Land" screening". Berkeley Human Rights Center. April 29, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
- ^ "UC Berkeley disputes claims it censored Armenian conflict film due to political pressure". The College Fix. May 29, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.
- ^ "Armenian Bar Association Applauds Rescheduled Screening of My Sweet Land at UC Berkeley LawSchool Following Attempted Suppression". The Armenian Bar. September 14, 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2026.