Creating Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo | Marya Zarif
In this episode of Outline, we're joined by author, illustrator, and film producer Marya Zarif, who's known for her animated works that highlight Syrian narratives. The conversation delves into her background, motivations for creating the award-winning Syrian animated series and films Dounia and ""Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo,"" and the emotional impact these works have on audiences. Zarif shares insights on her creative process, the significance of portraying Syrian culture, and the challenges faced as an Arab – and particularly Syrian – creator. The episode also touches on the broader issues of Syrian visibility in media and the responsibility of storytelling in fostering empathy and understanding.
Marya Zarif is a Syrian-born author, illustrator, screenwriter, and director with a passion for animated storytelling. In 2020, she created and co-directed the youth web series Dounia, which led to her award-winning debut feature ""Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo."" The film premiered at Annecy and has since received international acclaim. Zarif is also the author-illustrator of two Dounia books and is currently developing new films set for release in 2025 and 2027.
Connect with 👉 Zarif
Hosted by 👉 Sabine Boghossian
Sabine Boghossian is a multidisciplinary creative who dives headfirst into anything that captures her curiosity. Born and bred in a multicultural household in Aleppo, Syria, she has spent the last decade balancing her life between Beirut and Brussels. Her passion for food and sensitivity to language fuel her diverse practice, which spans scenography, design, and copywriting on subjects as varied as food, architecture, and identity. She recently launched ""yurs"" a line of repairable leather goods in the form of DIY kits.
Outline
This podcast series features a process-focused conversation that looks at a guest's individual projects rather than their full bodies of work. It sketches the journey of the project: the spark of curiosity that led to its birth, the process of implementing the idea, the obstacles that emerged throughout the implementation, and the aftermath of the project, including new questions and new ideas.
