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A journalist in a helmet and protective vest gestures in a dusty street surronded by civilians. A smoke cloud billows in the back among damaged buildings.

Citizen Osama Al mowaten Osama

  Ahmed Hassouna  |  Palestine, France

In besieged northern Gaza, Osama lives with his parents, wife, and his newborn son, who was miraculously born in the eighth month of the war. Driven by duty and hope, the once aspiring artist transformed himself into a hardened conflict photographer, wearing a bulletproof press vest and helmet, and risking his life to bear witness to and provide visual evidence of the daily devastation surrounding him.

In this raw portrait of resilience and humanity, filmmaker Ahmed Hassouna follows his friend and colleague struggling for survival—scouring makeshift shops for basic necessities like flour and diapers—while he also documents death and destruction at every turn. With extraordinary access to the citizen journalists and Palestinian people living under the constant threat of missile attacks, Citizen Osama is a must-watch chronicle of the unflinching realities of life on the ground in Gaza as well as a sensitive and engrossing portrait of a father trying to protect his family.

 Arabic 

 69 minutes

Screenings & Events

Screening

Sun, Oct 18 @ 6:15pm

at Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1
Venue information...

Festival passes can be used for this screening.
Scheduled to Attend:
Producer Laura Nikolov

Screening

Mon, Oct 19 @ 2:30pm

at AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 14
Venue information...

Festival passes can be used for this screening.
Scheduled to Attend:
Producer Laura Nikolov

Media

Film Credits

  • Laura Nikolov
  • Ahmed Hassouna
  • Denis le Paven
  • Yousef Al Masharawi
  • Osama Al-Ashi
  • Rasmus Steen
  • Fonds Masharawi pour les Films & cinéastes, Coorigines Production, Filcam for Media Production

Sponsors

Documentary Competition Program Partner

Logo: WTTW (2019)

Cultural Support

Logo: Chicago Palestine Film Festival 164x100

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