The Amina Profile

Montréal resident Sandra Bagaria was looking to meet an extraordinary woman in the winter of 2011. And, like many single people, Sandra found that woman – a sexy Syrian writer named Amina Arraf – online. Despite the thousands of miles between them, Amina communicated with Sandra daily, sharing everything from her intimate sexual desires to her involvement with the escalating political unrest in Syria. When Amina’s candid blog, “A Gay Girl in Damascus,” received international media attention, Sandra marveled at Amina’s passion and courage in the face of repeated threats from the Syrian government. But, in June of 2011, Sandra received a troubling update: Amina had been kidnapped. This documentary follows Sandra, international activists, and reporters in recounting this unimaginable episode. Sophie Deraspe’s THE AMINA PROFILE is a gripping exposé about the impact of social media on civil disobedience, the questionable storytelling methods of news outlets, and the countless people who fall victim to totalitarian regimes to this day. (In English, French, and Arabic with subtitles) – E.B.