Payam, a Tehran-born doctoral candidate studying history at the University of Exeter, travels to Mardin to conduct research into the Ancient City of Dara. What begins as an academic undertaking gradually turns into a personal encounter with a site whose historical significance has long been overlooked. The documentary film Dara, Empire Carved in Stone approaches the ancient city of Dara as a largely neglected site of cultural memory. Through the perspective of Payam, the film offers the audience an opportunity not only to explore the city, but also to question why it has not received the recognition it deserves. Payam’s process of first-hand learning, aided by conversations with archaeologists and tour guides, contrasts with Dara’s silence to form the narrative backbone of this visually and emotionally compelling film. Rather than glorifying Dara’s former grandeur, the film positions itself as a documentary that questions its present condition and invites the viewer to reflect anew on this cultural heritage.

Directors Emrullah Taş & Şerife Alpkaya

Emrullah Taş was born in Mardin in 2001 and is currently studying Radio, Cinema and Television. He focuses his work on documentary production, particularly developing projects on historical sites and cultural heritage.
Şerife Alpkaya was born in Mardin in 1994. She received her BA in 1994 and her MA in 2018 from the Department of Living Languages (Kurdish) of Artuklu University, where she is currently a student in the Department of Radio, Television and Cinema.