One & a Half is a poem short film that explores questions of origin, identity and belonging through the lens of diaspora experiences. The film is rooted in the poems and personal story of Naima Nazir, co-founder of ROOTS Berlin, whose own life between German and Egyptian heritage inspired this journey.

Through her words, the film translates the feeling of “being in between” into images, sound and language, creating a cinematic space where German, Arabic and English coexist, not to erase difference, but to expand what belonging can mean.

While the story begins with Naima’s perspective, the film grows beyond a single voice: it is a celebration of diasporic experiences, a reflection on the lives of people navigating multiple cultures and a meditation on home, memory and identity.

Where We Are Now

We have already raised €30.000 and are now seeking support for the remaining €10.000 to bring this project to completion.

We've already completed the first production phase in Egypt in April (4/6 production days) and established a core visual language.

Why This Film Matters

At ROOTS Berlin, we have spent years creating safer and inspiring spaces for BIPoC communities, fostering creativity, self-expression and resilience. One & A Half extends this mission into the arts: using poetry and film to connect individual experience with collective identity and to give visibility to voices too often overlooked.

Through this short film, we explore the concept of the Third Space, where new identities emerge between cultures, allowing us to embrace a “both-and” understanding rather than an “either-or.” I’m showing that identity is relational and hybrid and that multiplicity is a source of strength. By engaging with diasporic and hybrid identities, the film highlights how history, movement and memory continuously shape who we are.

What We’re Raising Funds For

Your contribution will directly support:

Why Your Support Matters

Crowdfunding allows ROOTS Berlin to remain independent and true to its vision, and ensures that the film stays intimate, honest and guided by care rather than compromise.

By contributing, you help bring this community-rooted story to life, a story inspired by personal poetry, but ultimately about diaspora, identity and belonging that resonates far beyond a single life.

How You Can Help

Every gesture brings this film closer to the screen, connecting viewers to stories that are personal, collective and needed.