In this episode of the Sumud Podcast, Dr. Ed Hasan sits down with filmmaker Colette Ghunim and actress, producer, and Palestine advocate Melissa Barrera to discuss ‘Traces of Home,’ Ghunim’s deeply personal documentary tracing her family’s roots in Palestine and Mexico. Together, they explore forced migration, intergenerational trauma, identity, family, and the difficult process of returning to the places their families were forced to leave. Barrera also reflects on her advocacy for Palestinian freedom and dignity, while Ghunim shares how making the film transformed her relationship with her parents and her understanding of home. At the heart of the conversation is Sumud: the resilience, dignity, and determination to remain rooted in who you are.

As a documentary filmmaker and nonprofit co-founder, Colette Ghunim’s soul purpose is to use the power of film and storytelling for those oppressed around the world to be seen, to be heard, and to heal. Her first documentary, The People’s Girls (2016), received over 2 million views and won Best Short Documentary at the Arab Film Festival for its bold spotlight on street harassment in Egypt. In co-production with Kartemquin Films and funded by Latino Public Broadcasting, she is directing Traces of Home, her first feature-length film documenting her inner quest to find home through unearthing her parent’s forced migrations from Mexico and Palestine. Colette is also the co-founder of Mezcla Media Collective, a nonprofit organization aimed to cultivate a thriving landscape for over 700 women and non-binary filmmakers of color in Chicago. Her work has been highlighted on international outlets such as Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, Univision, and TEDx. Colette was selected as a 2023 Obama Foundation USA Leader, 2024 Sundance Institute x ISF Fellow, and was featured on Arab America’s “30 Under 30” list.

Melissa Barrera is a Mexican actress, singer, and producer known for her roles in Vida, In the Heights, Scream, Scream VI, and Abigail. She also serves as an executive producer of Traces of Home. Beyond her work on screen, Barrera has been outspoken in support of Palestinians and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. In 2023, she said she would “continue to speak out” and “continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom.” She is also listed among the signatories of Artists4Ceasefire, a collective calling for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, the return of hostages, and a just and lasting peace.

In this conversation, we explore:
→ The journey behind Traces of Home and Colette Ghunim’s search for home in Mexico and Palestine
→ Intergenerational trauma, family silence, and healing
→ Colette’s father returning to Palestine decades after the Nakba
→ Why Melissa Barrera joined the film and continued speaking out for Palestinian freedom and dignity
→ The cultural and emotional connections between Mexico and Palestine
→ How Colette came to understand home as something found within
→ The power of art, vulnerability, and Sumud to reclaim identity and heal across generations

Director: Dr. Ed Hasan | 2026