Norsk filminstitutt

Documentary film Baghdad on Fire


An insider account of the hopes and dreams of Iraqi youth, led by 19-year-old Tiba who faces the enormous consequences of fighting for democracy, freedom, and a future.  

After a lifetime of conflict in Iraq, 20-year-old Tiba joins the October 2019 protests. She is amazed to see so many young men and women gathering from across the nation. Regardless of class and religion, the youth stand side by side in a fight to reclaim their country. Tiba forms new friendships, ideas and dreams. When the peaceful protests are met with violence, she becomes a medic tending to the wounded. But she could never have imagined the heartache one fatality brings. 

Production and distribution

Production Year:
2023
Production country:
Norway
Release date (national):
2023-03-18
Release date (international):
2023-03-20
Production company:
Integral Film AS
Financing company:
Norwegian Film Institute
Fritt Ord Foundation
Østnorsk Filmsenter
Producer:
Nefise Özkal Lorentzen
Jørgen Lorentzen
Film consultant:
Klara Nilsson Grunning
Sales agent:
DR Sales

Director

  • Karrar Al-Azzawi

    Karrar Al-Azzawi is an Iraqi filmmaker who lives in Norway. He is a BFA student at the TV School, Innland Norway University of Applied Sciences, in Lillehammer, graduating in film directing in spring 2023. 

    He works as an independent film director as well as working at Integral Film. His vision is to contribute to changing the world by fostering greater understanding and solidarity between people. Baghdad on Fire is Al-Azzawi's international debut feature film. His next project is the documentary Dreaming Souls, a film that tells the story of two girls with Down Syndrome, one from Iraq and one from Norway. 

    During his five years in the asylum process, he made the short film ''Just Crumbs'' (2016). He organized international photography exhibitions called "Forgotten" in several European countries to raise awareness about the refugee situation worldwide.  

    Karrar Al-Azzawi

Awards

2023:
Nordisk Panorama
Audience Award

Festivals

2023:
CPH:DOX
2023:
DOK.fest - München International Documentary Film Festival
2023:
Amman International Film Festival
2023:
International Documentary Festival Visioni dal mondo, Immagini dalla realtà
2023:
Nordisk Panorama
2023:
Nordic/Docs
2023:
Middle East Now Film Festival
2023:
BIFF - Bergen International Film Festival

Crew

Director:
Karrar Al-Azzawi
Screenplay:
Karrar Al-Azzawi
Cinematographer:
Hussein Monaf
Editor:
Morten Haslerud
Composer:
Nawar Alnaddaf
Simon Valentine
Other Music:
Naseer Shamma
Sound Design:
Daniel Angyal

Technical information

Format:
DCP 4k
Colour:
Colour
Length in min's:
65'
Language:
Arabic
Subtitles:
English

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