Raised by Sand & Salty Water explores Wafa's inspiring life story and how skateboarding has shaped her journey, highlighting the broader influence of skateboarding and surfing in Arabic culture. Through Wafa's personal narrative, the documentary showcases the impact of skateboarding on social and economic development in rural areas like Taghazout, challenging traditional gender roles and empowering young girls to pursue their dreams fearlessly. Raised by Sand & Salty Water offers a captivating glimpse into the transformative power of skateboarding, shedding light on its profound effects on Arabic culture, feminism, and the progress of marginalized communities.

Interview with Daniel Simón R. (Writer/Producer/Director) and David Corrochano (Writer/Director)

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

We made this film for two main reasons. First, Wafa’s story is unique and special, and we wanted to document it in a way that does it justice, approaching it from her personal and contextual perspective. Second, we wanted to challenge ourselves technically and narratively. The idea came up three years ago, and since then, we have dedicated ourselves to carefully crafting every element of the piece, from the music and imagery to the narrative, to create something inspiring that could encourage others to skate.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Wafa’s story is relevant to anyone who has faced barriers and limitations, whether social, cultural, or personal. It’s a story about self-confidence and overcoming fear and uncertainty. We believe anyone can see themselves in some aspect of her struggle and find inspiration in her determination to be happy doing what she loves, regardless of what others might think.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

The themes that unite us both are social justice and challenging pre-imposed gender roles. On a personal level, Daniel has always been attracted to surfing, while David is passionate about skateboarding. This allowed us to connect our passions with the values we wanted to convey in the documentary. Combining these personal interests with universal themes enabled us to create a work that reflects our own experiences as well as Wafa’s.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Being a short documentary, it’s impractical to have a visual piece strictly follow the written script. We developed different layers of the story, using the context of her environment (Taghazout) to create parallels. We started with a clear script but remained open to changes and improvisation, adapting and absorbing each moment once we were there. This flexibility allowed us to capture surprises and unexpected elements that enriched the final result.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Excellent! We couldn’t be happier with the outcome. We had the opportunity to premiere at one of Europe’s most recognized Surf & Skate festivals, the Paris Surf & Skate Film Festival. We’ve also been invited to other festivals in the US, such as the Nomansland Film Festival, and we’ve caught the interest of the streaming platform Waterbear Network.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

Yes, it has pleasantly surprised us. While we are always open to constructive criticism to improve and reflect, in this case, it hasn’t changed our perspective on the documentary. It’s been encouraging to receive so many positive comments that reaffirm our approach and execution.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

We want to give more visibility to Wafa’s story and motivate any reader who has a special story they want to tell. We aim to reach as many people as possible and connect with other professionals in the sector who might have comments or proposals. We would be delighted to hear from them and consider any collaboration.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

We appreciate the genuine interest of any organization in our audiovisual piece. We want to reach the right people who have the necessary sensitivity to empathize with this story and help us give it the maximum exposure. So far, we have managed and organized everything by ourselves, but our resources are limited, so any help will be welcome. We are open to any proposal.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

We would like the audience to reflect on the beautiful and gratifying things that are lost due to fears, insecurities, and self-imposed mental barriers. We hope that Wafa’s story inspires others to overcome their own limitations and pursue what makes them happy.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Is there something you’re not doing because you’re afraid of what others might think?

Would you like to add anything else?

We would like to highlight the team effort that made this documentary possible. We want to thank everyone who saw the same value in this work as we did and took care of it accordingly:

Camera and Edit: David Corrochano

Music & Sound Design Ben Serra

Vocals: Blanca Romeo

Color: Luna Sáez

Producer: Daniel Simon R.

Production Company: Rotten Studio

Special Thanks:

Mustapha Kdir

Khadija Archh

Mohamed Bouhrist

STUDIO LA BUM

NFTS.

We appreciate the interest you’ve shown in our documentary and encourage people to undertake projects that tell inspiring stories that make us rethink things.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Right now, each of us is focused on our personal and commercial projects, staying curious and always trying new things that enrich our work.

Interview: June 2024

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Raised By Sand & Salty Water

Length: 10:00

Director: Daniel Simón R, David Corrochano

Producer: Daniel Simón R.

Writer: Daniel Simón R, David Corrochano

About the writer, director and producer:

DANIEL SIMÓN R and DAVID CORROCHANO are both artists, filmmakers, and photographers. They´re based in Spain, Daniel in Barcelona and David in Madrid.

Key cast: Wafa Heboul, Faiza Moumane

Looking for: sales agents, journalists, film festival directors, distributors

Instagram: @rbsswfilm, @danielsimonr, @dcorrochano

Hashtags used: #RBSSWFilm

Website: Raised By Sand & Salty Water

Other: WaterBear

Funders: self-funded