Mohamad Abdouni’s ‘Treat Me Like Your Mother’ to Premiere at IDFA

Lebanese artist and filmmaker Mohamad Abdouni’s documentary film Treat Me Like Your Mother will have its world premiere at the prestigious International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) this November!

What started as a photo collection is now a full documentary celebrating Beirut’s queer history. Treat Me Like Your Mother: Trans* Histories From Beirut’s Forgotten Past tells the stories of trans women in the city during the 1980s and 1990s, with photographs preserved by the Arab Image Foundation.

The film is set to premiere in Amsterdam on November 15, 2025. The festival has also nominated it for two awards: the Envision Competition 2025 and the Beeld & Geluid ReFrame Award 2025.

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is one of the world’s leading documentary festivals, showcasing thought-provoking films from around the globe and celebrating innovative storytelling in nonfiction cinema.

Congratulations to Mohamad Abdouni on this incredible milestone! It’s truly beautiful to see these often-overlooked stories preserved and shared, giving them the recognition they deserve in Lebanese history.

Excited about Mohamad Abdouni’s documentary film premiering at the IDFA? To stay updated, make sure to follow him on Instagram! The festival will be taking place from November 13 until November 25, 2025.

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