They are not films that exist within the category of cultural recognition and artistic creativity in Syria. That could be our overall answer to there being nothing we can call a "Syrian audience," especially when a judgment is passed as an absolute conclusion, that the Syrian audience loved this film or condemned that film. Yes, there's a Syrian audience that's passionate about this cinema all over the planet, and it is largely concentrated in Europe. We can't say that a few dozen Syrians attending a Syrian film here is evidence of the presence of a Syrian audience denouncing, promoting and engaging with these films. In an attempt to understand the gap between the Syrian public and Syrian cinema—and here I mean documentaries exclusively, because they are my profession—it’s important to explain some of the axioms of this industry.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 11, 2020 12:56 UTC