— Revolutionaries Never Die | 2026
Mohanad Yaqubi

In October 2018, archivist and filmmaker Mohanad Yaqubi received an unexpected invitation from Jocelyne Saab, proposing a cinematic collaboration. Saab died before he was able to answer, leaving the request as a final, open question. Compelled to understand why she reached out to him, Yaqubi enters a profound exploration of her archives, tracing the intricate threads between artistic expression and political struggle while navigating the intimate consequences of a life dedicated to revolution and the pursuit of justice.
 
REVOLUTIONARIES NEVER DIE is an homage to an independent Arab woman filmmaker working at a turbulent time who dedicated her life to documenting places and people who no longer exist. The film constructs Saab’s filmic biography by splicing fragments of footage in chronological order, enabling a fascinating and vivid portrait of her to emerge. It reflects both on Saab's remarkable political persistence as well as her role as a filmmaker in a time of struggle. 
 
REVOLUTIONARIES NEVER DIE is about Jocelyne's journey in the 70s narrated with her voice. Saab’s experience is recounted using filmmaking as a medium to unravel the complexities of Arab political life in the 1970s, with a primary focus on the Palestinian revolution and Lebanon's stance during those tumultuous times. The voice over is crafted through an extensive process of collage and voice editing, staying true to chronology but making use of the vast amounts of materials Saab ensured was available with every film she made: holding onto rushes, and ensuring that her films were also voiced in English, French and Arabic for widespread dissemination.   
 
In today’s conflicted present, looking to the past as a way of resolving to impact the future is the main objective of Revolutionaries Never Die. The film reflects on geopolitics as well as the personal and emotional entanglement with these events from a cinematic perspective, opening new avenues to engage with time and memory. It allows for rearrangements that can alter context, where each new ordering of images in a film sequence impacts our present. Reflecting on the past is an act that transforms our perception and can challenge our beliefs.