A new documentary short, 'Maybe Tomorrow', offers a poignant insight into the ongoing struggle for truth and justice faced by families of Syria's forcibly disappeared. The film, which premiered at the Sheffield DocFest, is a collaborative effort between Wafa Mustafa, whose father was abducted a decade ago, and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, known for her acclaimed work 'For Sama'.
Wafa Mustafa's personal journey forms the heart of the documentary. Her father, Ali, was taken by armed men from a Damascus apartment in 2013, when Mustafa was 23. This event marked the beginning of her relentless pursuit of answers, a quest mirrored by countless others. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reports that over 177,000 individuals were forcibly disappeared between 2011 and 2025, with many arbitrarily detained and subjected to torture in prisons controlled by the Bashar al-Assad regime or other armed groups.
The title 'Maybe Tomorrow' draws its name from an Umm Kulthum song that Mustafa, as a child, once transcribed for her father – a song about waiting for someone who has gone. This deeply personal resonance underscores the film's exploration of what Mustafa describes as 'the violence of waiting'. The documentary follows her from her current base in Berlin to Syria, after the fall of the Assad regime, as she desperately seeks information regarding her father's fate.
Waad Al-Kateab, who co-directed the Oscar-nominated 'For Sama' with Edward Watts, aimed for a similarly collaborative approach with 'Maybe Tomorrow', this time elevating the protagonist to co-director. Al-Kateab expressed a belief in the power of individuals owning their narratives, stating she realised Mustafa needed to tell her own story in her own way. Mustafa, who has a significant social media following, views the film as a condensed 'memoir' of her life over the past six years, highlighting the profound impact of forced disappearances on families, particularly those living in exile.
Through 'Maybe Tomorrow', Mustafa hopes to convey the profound emotional burden of not knowing what happened to a loved one. The film aims to offer audiences a glimpse into the experience of having a father disappear, being told he is dead, yet being unable to accept it due to the lack of concrete information or closure. This lack of resolution creates a unique and enduring form of trauma for those left behind.
While details of UK streaming availability are yet to be confirmed, the film's premiere at Sheffield DocFest signifies its entry into the UK cultural landscape, potentially opening avenues for broader distribution and awareness for British audiences.
Source: Sheffield DocFest, Syrian Network for Human Rights