My Father and Qaddafi

A daughter’s search for her missing father, former foreign minister in Qaddafi’s Libya.

This is a brilliantly told documentary about a daughter’s search for answers about her father’s disappearance. Jihan, the film’s director, wants to know what happened when her father suddenly disappeared from a human rights conference in Cairo in 1993. The film also provides a solid insight into Libya’s history, as her father, Mansur Kikhia, was Libya and Muammar Qaddafi’s foreign minister and UN ambassador. He later defected and became an important figure in Libya’s opposition and fought to unite the Arab countries.

Jihan was only 6 years old when her father disappeared, so she barely remembers him. Her mother, a strong character in the film, buys a video camera for the family after the father’s disappearance. Through rich home videos, the director reflects back on who her father was, and the holidays they spent in Libya searching for him. She now travels to find answers among her father’s relatives and friends, who remind us of the backdrop of his disappearance; the brutal regime of Qaddafi and Libya’s history as a colony.

This is an interesting film that cleverly places the family’s longing for their father within the historical and political context of Libya as a nation.

After the screenings March 4th and 6th there will be a talk with director Jihan moderated by Zeina Bali, Managing Director at Masahat. 

Due to the war in Iran, director Jihan is unfortunately not able to attend the festival.

After the screening on March 6, there will instead be a conversation with Hajer Sharief. The talk will be held by Zeina Bali, Managing Director of Masahat.