SECTIONS // OFFICIAL COMPETITION FEATURE LENGTH

AL AWDA ILA HIMS (RETURN TO HOMS)

AUDIENCE AWARD
Talal Derki
90' / 2013 / Germany, Syrian Arab Republic
Web: www.proactionfilm.com
Arabic
English and spanish subtitled

Audience vote 8.65

Filmed over 3 years in Homs, accompanying 2 outstanding young men from the time they were only dreaming of freedom to the time when they are forced to change course. Basset, the 19yo national football team goalkeeper, who became an outspoken demonstration leader in the city, then an icon revolution singer, till he becomes a fighter... a militia leader. Ossama, his 24yo friend, renowned citizen journalist, cynical pacifist... as his views are forced to change, until he is detained by army secret service. It is the story of a city, of which the world have heard a lot, but never really got closer than news, never really had the chance to experience how a war erupted. A modern times epic of youth in war time.

Main Festivals & Awards

Sundance - Grand Jury Award for World Cinema
Documentary, FIFDH Geneva - Grand Prix
FIFDH Paris - Grand Prix and Student Jury Award
Ljublijana Documentary Film Festival - Best Film Award
ZagrebDox - 2 Special Mentions
IDFA - Feature Doc Competition and Opening Night Film

Director's Biography

Talal Derki, born in Damascus 1977, is a Syrian filmmaker who studied film directing in Athens, graduated in 2003. He made two short fiction films, and five documentaries. His films were previously screened in various festivals (Thessaloniki, Rotterdam Arab Film Festival...), awards included the Silver Hawk at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival 2011 for Azadi, and a jury special mention from Arab Camera Film Festival 2012, for “Lajat”, both films made during the Syrian revolution and screened with alias names, before Talal decided to leave Syria with his family. He also worked intensively as a video reporter, for important agencies and outlets, including Thompson Reuters, CNN, ITV, Al Arabiya, France 24... among others. Was a finalist at the Rory Peck Awards 2012. Talal is also a published poet.

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