The 2019 documentary For Sama received a six-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, marking a significant moment for the filmmaker known by the pseudonym Waad al-Kateab. The surname serves as a protection for her family, while her work documents the realities of the Syrian Civil War and the experiences of civilians during the Siege of Aleppo.
Academic Background and Early Reporting
Born in Syria in 1991, al-Kateab moved to Aleppo in 2009 to study marketing at the University of Aleppo. The onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 redirected her focus toward citizen journalism. Her footage from the conflict zone began appearing on Channel 4 News, which became the most watched program of the UK News Channels. She continued to document life in Aleppo over a five-year period, covering the local medical work of her husband, Hamza, and the upbringing of their daughter, Sama.
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Directed alongside Edward Watts, the feature-length film For Sama chronicles the personal and professional struggles of its creator under siege. The project gained substantial critical attention, winning the Prix L’Œil d’or at Cannes. It subsequently received four nominations at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards, winning for Best Documentary, and was nominated for an Academy Award in the same category. The film has garnered over 105 awards globally, including the European Film Award for Best Documentary.
Awards and Career Recognition
Al-Kateab’s reporting on the Battle for Aleppo earned her an International Emmy Award for Current Affairs & News, making her the first Syrian to receive this honor. Her accolades span various organizations, including the Royal Television Society and Amnesty International, which recognized her work with the Gaby Rado Award for Best New Journalist. In 2020, she was named to the Time 100 Most Influential People list and the BBC 100 Women list. In 2021, she became the recipient of the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women.
Relocation and Continued Work
Following the evacuation from Aleppo in December 2016, al-Kateab resettled in the United Kingdom with her husband and their two daughters. Her career, which combines roles as a cinematographer, journalist, and film director, remains active. The scope of her professional achievements includes numerous honors for news coverage and independent filmmaking, such as the duPont-Columbia Award and multiple British Independent Film Awards.
Fast facts
- Born: 1991, Syria
- Education: University of Aleppo
- Notable Work: For Sama
- Key Award: International Emmy (2017)
- Residency: United Kingdom
- Occupations: Cinematographer, journalist, film director
Questions readers ask
Why does she use the name Waad al-Kateab?
The surname is a pseudonym adopted to protect her family.
What subjects does her film work cover?
Her primary work focuses on the Syrian Civil War, the Siege of Aleppo, and her personal experience as a citizen journalist and mother in a conflict zone.
Achievements
- Notable work: For Sama
- Worked as film director, journalist and cinematographer
