My Sweet Land is a coming-of-age story set against a multigenerational war in the post-Soviet Caucasus Mountains. It follows an 11-year-old boy named Vrej, growing up in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) who dreams of becoming a dentist in his picture-postcard village with its roaming ducks and golden bees. His sweet land, however, is strewn with mines from previous wars, shaping a country that remains unrecognized to the world. Vrej’s life takes a sudden turn when war erupts, forcing him to flee with his family. He spends his days in exile impatiently waiting for victory, but reality takes a different turn; Armenians lose the war. Upon returning to his surviving village, he confronts the devastation, new power dynamics, and education that prepares children for near-future battles. Vrej must learn the rules of war… But can he carry a nation’s hopes on his young shoulders? The film is a testament to the people of Artsakh, where hope and trauma have shaped their resilience across generations.

Gallery 
Sareen Hairabedian

Sareen Hairabedian is an Armenian-Jordanian documentary filmmaker based in the U.S. Through her intimate observational filming style, she captures the untold stories of the underrepresented. Sareen Hairabedian founded her production company HAI Creative in 2016, through which she engages in international co-productions, and works with organizations and broadcasters such as Sesame Workshop, HBO, Wounded Warrior Project, and others. My Sweet Land (2024) is her debut feature-length documentary and has been supported by ITVS, ARTE, International Documentary Association, Arab Fund for Arts & Culture , Jordan Film Fund and CNC.

Screenings 
Friday, 8 November 8:30PM
Művész - Buñuel
English & Hungarian Subtitles
Tuesday, 12 November 6:15PM
Művész - Huszárik
English & Hungarian Subtitles
USA, France, Ireland, Jordan
2024
85min
Armenian
 
Director 
Sareen Hairabedian
Producer 
Azza Hourani
Sareen Hairabedian
David Rane
Julie Paratian
Editor 
Raphaëlle Martin-Hölger
Sareen Hairabedian
Cinematographer 
Sareen Hairabedian
Sound 
Tom Efinger
Jeff Seelye
Music 
Tigran Hamasyan
Distribution info 
Léa Dembaga Sister Productions lea.dembaga@sisterprod.com
Festivals and Awards 
Jury Award for Feature Documentary at Amman IFF (2024)
Audience Award at Amman IFF (2024)
FIPRESCI Award for Best Feaure-Length Arab Documentary at Amman IFF (2024)
IDA Documentary Awards Shortlist for Best Feature Documentary (2024)