Filmmaker Statement

Carrot Cake was born during a 2022 director’s residency in Beirut. Visiting Hammana, I met a birdwatcher named Chadi Saad, who guided us to his personal spot in the mountains. Experiencing the quiet joy birdwatching brings through Chadi’s eyes made me realise it’s more than a hobby—it’s an identity rooted in independence, freedom, and community. This inspired Carrot Cake, about T, a 62-year-old birdwatcher facing early-onset dementia. As she bonds with a troubled young girl, she confronts her elusive past and navigates the fragile landscape of memory and identity. Set over a few days, the film captures the beauty of fleeting moments amid profound change. T’s love for birds reflects their contradictory nature—the desire to leave and the need to nest—mirroring human struggles between independence and connection. Passionate, loyal, yet guarded, she comes to terms with her diagnosis while reconciling with her inner child. Birdwatching is both anchor and escape, mirroring the complexities o