Go behind the scenes of award-winning documentary My Sweet Land during this special two-day event featuring filmmaker Sareen Hairabedian. The experience begins with a screening of My Sweet Land, followed the next day by an interactive workshop exploring the art and craft of observational documentary filmmaking.

Using scenes from the film as a case study, Sareen will guide participants through the filmmaking process — from capturing authentic moments in the field to shaping a story in the editing room. Through scene analysis, discussion, behind-the-scenes insights and hands-on activities, participants will explore the creative, ethical and technical decisions involved in documentary storytelling, including the unique challenges of filming in a war zone. Designed for beginners, the workshop welcomes aspiring filmmakers and anyone curious about how real-life moments become compelling cinematic stories.

Event Dates & Times

  • Screening of My Sweet Land — Monday, September 21, 2026 (1:00–4:00 p.m.)
  • Observational Documentary Filmmaking Workshop — Tuesday, September 22, 2026 (9:00–12:00 p.m.)

About Sareen Hairabedian

Sareen Hairabedian is an Armenian-Jordanian documentary filmmaker based in the U.S., known for her intimate observational style that brings to light the untold stories of underrepresented communities.

Her acclaimed directorial debut, “We Are Not Done Yet,” is a 40-minute HBO documentary that follows U.S. veterans coping with PTSD through the transformative power of poetry. Produced by actor Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction, Westworld), the film received the Best Documentary award at the G.I. Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary Short at the International Documentary Association Awards in 2018.

Sareen's debut feature-length documentary, “My Sweet Land” (Sheffield DocFest, 2024), chronicles one child's journey through disillusionment, trauma, and hope in his homeland Artsakh. This film has been recognized as Jordan's official submission for the International Feature Film category at the Oscars and has received support from esteemed organizations, including ITVS, ARTE, Jordan Film Fund, and the International Documentary Association. The film was the recipient of the Audience Award, FIPRESCI Award and the Jury Award for Best Arab Documentary at the Amman International Film Festival in 2024.

As the founder of HAI Creative, Sareen collaborates with organizations and artists that use storytelling as a means of fostering understanding and creating social impact. Her recent collaborators include MTV Studios, Sesame Workshop, Community Building Art Works, and the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. Sareen was a fellow at Video Consortium x DocNYC and Creative Armenia.

Registration Information

This event is free and open to the public, as well as current and former NTC students!