Sarah Mowaswes and Maiken Baird on Edward Said’s legacy, and the power of storytelling

As a first-generation Palestinian American, what personal connection did you bring to the project, and how did that perspective influence the film’s development?

Sarah Mowaswes: For me, this film was an exercise in bridging the different parts of myself – the American who grew up in this country and the Palestinian whose roots are from Gaza – in the same way that Edward did. So many of us have seen videos of Palestinian parents struggling to feed their children because Israel has blocked food, families being ripped apart from constant bombings, and everyday Palestinians not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

As we worked on the film it was impossible to not think of Palestine, so Palestine became a guiding light in the film. As we worked to develop the story, we reminded ourselves of the present day genocide and how we could illuminate Edward’s story to give audiences a better understanding of Edward’s intellect but also Palestine as a real, vibrant place.

This is the first documentary to receive full access to the Said family and estate. What went into earning that trust, and which newly uncovered material had the greatest impact on you?

Sarah Mowaswes: This film would not have been possible without the love, care, and support of Mariam, Najla, and Wadie Said. For a year before our edit began, we had countless conversations with the Said family that helped us better understand Edward as a three-dimensional person that went beyond the archive at hand.

This pre-production was also a trust building exercise; we wanted to make it clear to the family that we were very much in partnership with them on this film. Mariam Said was the architect behind Edward’s career, so her wisdom was integral to the film’s success.

The 8mm footage of Edward and his family in Palestine prior to the 1948 formation of Israel was mesmerizing and completely changed the direction of the film. Rather than tell the simple story of an intellectual, we could finally see the person behind the ideas that have changed post colonial studies and the West’s perception of Palestine.

There’s very little archival footage from Palestine prior to the devastation of the Nakba – when 75% of Palestinians were forced out of their homes in 1948 as part of Israel’s establishment. To have a fuller picture of Palestine as a vibrant and multicultural society is priceless and I am so happy we were able to give this footage to the world.

Beyond its TIFF premiere, what conversations do you hope the film inspires, and how are you planning to bring it to younger audiences who may be encountering Edward Said’s work for the first time?

Sarah Mowaswes: Central to Edward’s work was the idea of Palestinians being denied the “permission to narrate” — to tell their own stories, share their experiences, and to be heard. Too often, established media leaves out the Palestinian narrative and our film actively works against that censorship.

Edward was clear on his position of bridging gaps and creating conversation. We hope this film is a starting point for audiences to learn, to grow, and to feel inspired to act.

Time and again we are seeing younger audiences driving ticket sales and being at the forefront of change – especially in the case of advocating for a free Palestine.

So our team is meeting those audiences where they gather online! We have developed a robust and engaging social media presence that takes the film outside the traditional theater. This feels like a way to target younger audiences and break free from more traditional forms of distribution that leave out younger cinephiles.

Maiken Baird, Director and Producer of Edward Said: Between Worlds

The documentary tells Edward Said’s story largely through his own words and previously unseen archival material. How did you shape such an extensive archive into a personal and emotionally engaging narrative?

Maiken Baird: We knew we wanted the film to be entirely in Edward Said’s own voice because he was such an interesting and engaging storyteller and raconteur of history. His classes at Columbia (where I studied in the late 1980s) were legendary and always oversubscribed because he was an academic rockstar and larger-than-life presence.

We spent one and a half years gathering all of the audio recordings we could find of Edward Said’s interviews, radio shows, lectures, documentaries, news shows and teachings. Edward Said was prolific in English, French and Arabic. We had three remarkable editors who worked tirelessly to help us weave it all together into a cohesive and engaging narrative. It was a joy spending two years immersed in Edward Said.

The film explores Said’s political awakening, his experience of exile and his defence of the Palestinian right to tell its own story. How did you approach these subjects while preserving the complexity of his ideas and identity?

Maiken Baird: Edward Said’s personal story of exile in 1948 and awakening in New York after the six day war in 1967 informed his writings and intellectual ideas. His own personal experience enabled him to write Orientalism and The Question of Palestine in 1979 which fundamentally transformed how the Palestinian narrative was understood in the west. It was the first English language book to narrate the Palestinian experience and deconstruct Zionism. Edward Said changed the world by exposing the true story and history of what happened to the Palestinians who were the native inhabitants of the land.

What does premiering Edward Said: Between Worlds at TIFF mean to you, particularly at a time when Said’s writing about Palestine, representation and power feels increasingly relevant?

Maiken Baird: I am thrilled and grateful to Thom Powers for programming our film at TIFF and giving Edward Said this global platform. Edward Said’s fundamental knowledge and wisdom about the story of Palestine and Israel puts our current affairs into context. He was also a deeply moral, emphatic and kind human who inspired our humanity. I believe the wisdom of Edward Said has never been more relevant.

Edward Said: Between Worlds premiered at TIFF 2026 on September 12, 2026