Born in Damascus

Directed by Laura Wadha (2021)

After ten years apart, a Scottish filmmaker is trying to reconnect with her cousin after being separated by the war in Syria. Once so similar, they have grown up with completely different lives. As they piece together their memories of Syria, they begin to wonder - ‘What happened to our family?’

Now available to watch online at Guardian Documentaries.

Winner of the Crystal Bear for Best Short Film, Generation 14plus at Berlinale 2022.
Winner of the NEON Award at Mo&Friese Junges Kurzfilm Festival Hamburg 2022.
Nominee for Scotland’s Year of Stories Short Film Award at Glasgow Short Film Festival 2022.
In competition at Encounters Film Festival 2022.
International competition at War on Screen Festival 2022.
Nominee for Grosse Klappe Award - doxs! Documentary Film Festival 2022.

  • release. 2021
    genre. short documentary
    duration. 16’

  • director & editor. Laura Wadha
    producer. Charlotte Hailstone
    consultant editor. Maya Hawke
    sound designer. Ruth Knight
    music by. Harry Brokensha
    graphics. Billy Lubach

    For Bridging the Gap.
    production coordinators. Ruth Scott & Rachel Stollery
    festivals coordinator. Alexandra Colta

    executive producers. Noé Mendelle & Flore Cosquer
    executive producer for Screen Scotland. Mark Thomas

  • country. Scotland, UK
    Scottish Documentary Institute - Bridging the Gap
    Hailstone Films

  • festivals.
    world premiere. Edinburgh International Film Festival 2021
    international premiere. Berlinale 2022

    Inverness Film Festival 2021
    Glasgow Short Film Festival 2022
    LA Asian Pacific Film Festival 2022
    Salem Film Fest 2022
    Cinema in Sneakers 2022
    Mo&Friese Junges Kurzfilm Festival 2022
    Visions du Réel British Council Short Documentary Showcase 2022
    St Kilda Film Festival 2022
    Pyeongchang International Peace Film Festival 2022
    Doc Edge Schools Festival Sessions 2022
    Safar Futures at the Barbican 2022
    Encounters Film Festival 2022
    War on Screen Festival 2022
    Take One Action Film Festival 2022
    Folkestone Documentary Festival 2022
    Sunderland Shorts 2022
    Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival 2022
    doxs! Documentary Film Festival 2022
    This is England British Short Film Festival Rouen 2022
    Kassel Documentary Film & Video Festival 2022
    London Migration Film Festival 2022
    British Short Film Festival Berlin 2023

    awards.
    Crystal Bear for Best Short Film, Generation 14plus - Berlinale 2022
    NEON Prize - Mo&Friese Hamburg 2022


    nominations.
    Scotland’s Year of Stories Short Film Award - Glasgow Short Film Festival 2022
    In competition at Encounters Film Festival 2022
    International competition at War on Screen Festival 2022
    Grosse Klappe Award - doxs! Documentary Film Festival 2022

  • Screen Scotland

    • The Guardian - Laura Wadha Opinion Piece accompanying launch on Guardian Documentaries (Apr 2023) - read.

    • Berlinale Awards Announcement (Feb 2022) - read.

    • The New Current interview with Laura Wadha (Feb 2022) - read.

    • Cineuropa Berlinale (Jan 2022) - read.

    • Berlinale press release (Jan 2022) - read.

    • The Skinny (Sep 2021) - read.

watch.
trailer.
imdb.