Ossama Mohammed

His film "The Box of Life" was shown at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. He currently lives in exile in Paris, where he collaborated on the film "Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait."

Born in Lattakiya in 1954, he graduated from the Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in 1979.
 His first short documentary film "... Khutwa Khutwa" (Step by Step -1978) A film that touched on the mystery of turning poor, innocent children into soldiers and stand-by killers.

His first feature film "Nujum al-Nahar - Stars in Broad Daylight",which he produced in 1988, was included in the official selection of the 2013 Berlinale after 35 years. The film, considered by many to be the most damning critique of contemporary Syrian society trapped in the iron grip of the Baath regime, was never allowed to be shown publicly in Syria. It was selected for the Cannes Film Festival's Quinzaine des Réalisateurs and earned the filmmaker high praise from critics, including the Palme d'Or at the Valencia Festival that same year.


He was not able to realize his second feature film until 2002. "Sunduq al-Dunya" (Sacrifices, 2002) was selected for the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2002. The complex and visually stunning film confirmed its maker as one of the most individual and masterful filmmakers among the graduates of the Soviet film school.


After 2011 in forced exile in Paris, he began a new cinematic adventure: "Silvered Water, Syria Self- Portrait".