Citizen Osama
Snow Leopard Competition
Palestine’s Submission for the 99th Academy Awards®
المواطن أسامة
71 min | Documentary | 2026 | Palestine, France | Arabic | English Subs
Schedule
Nov 18, 2026 | 04:00 PM
Synopsis:
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.
Director
Ahmed Hassouna
Ahmed Hassouna is a Palestinian filmmaker. After earning a degree in journalism from Al-Azhar University in Gaza, he turned to filmmaking. His work includes several award-winning documentaries that have received prestigious recognition, including the Al Jazeera Award in 2013. Istrupya (2019), his first feature-length fiction film, won the Special Jury Prize at the Alexandria Film Festival. More recently, his film Sorry Cinema, part of the From Ground Zero project (2024), was shortlisted for the Oscars, reflecting his growing recognition on the international film scene. His work revolves around memory and identity, exploring the human condition in times of war and profound transformation. Through a sensitive visual language that blends realism and contemplation, he brings an intimate and deeply human dimension to everyday life.
Credits
Director:
Ahmed Hassouna
Producer:
Laura Nikolov
Rashid Masharawi
Editing:
Denis le Paven
Cinematographer:
Yousef Al Masharawi
Sound:
Hatem Salmi
Sarah Fasseur-Leroux
Music:
Rasmus Steen
Presented By
