Waad al-Kateab’s For Sama has been nominated in the Best Documentary category at the Oscars and the Academy Awards. For Sama is the first war documentary from a feminine perspective.
The critically acclaimed Syrian war film has racked up 58 awards since its world premiere in March last year. Last week, it also became the most-nominated documentary in BAFTA history.
About the film
The 95-minute feature documentary follows the intimate and epic journey of al-Kateab through five years of her life in the rebel-held city of Aleppo. During this time frame, she falls in love, marries, and gives birth to her first daughter, Sama.
Waad al-Kateab started documenting the war from its early stages; when students were protesting in Aleppo in 2013. At first, she was just recording the events of the uprising with her phone.
She then started documenting the horrors of Aleppo for Channel 4 News in January 2016; while living in a makeshift hospital run by her doctor husband.
The hospital and surrounding residential areas were under attack by Syrian and Russian forces. The short films she made for the UK news programme became some of the most-watched news pieces on Syria around the world.
Her short news films received almost half a billion views online and won 24 awards. This includes the 2016 International Emmy for breaking news coverage.
For Sama was the opening film for the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) on November 10, 2019. Check out our review for the documentary here.
Statements from the filmmakers
For Sama directors, Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts said; “We are so delighted and honoured to be nominated for an Oscar, alongside these incredible films and filmmakers. It is a moment that we had never imagined on a journey spanning 9-years from near-death to new life.
“We hope that the nomination will encourage as many people as possible to go and see the film; to learn the true story of the Syrian conflict.
“And we ask them to remember that what they see in the film is still happening today in Idlib; the last part of Syria outside the control of the Assad dictatorship. The regime and its Russian allies bomb hospitals, schools, and children every day.”
Channel 4 News Deputy Editor and For Sama Executive Producer, Nevine Mabro said; “In December 2016 Waad al-Kateab fled Aleppo with her family and over 500 hours of powerful footage.
“Today’s For Sama Oscar nomination for ‘Best Documentary Feature’ is testament to the most courageous filmmaker we have ever worked with at Channel 4 News.”
For Sama Executive Producer and Editor of Channel 4 News, Ben de Pear; “We are so proud to have developed this film from Waad’s unforgettable short films during the siege of Aleppo…
“All the way through to this incredible feature documentary. Proof that our unique support of independent filmmakers across the world can have a huge impact.”
In addition to the Oscars and Academy Awards nominations, For Sama was the winner of the Golden Eye Documentary Prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Grand Jury prize for Best Documentary and the Audience Award at SXSW.