WAAD AL-KATEAB / DEATH WITHOUT MERCY
In 2009, 18-year-old Waad al-Kateab moved to Aleppo to study marketing at the University of Aleppo.
In 2011, when protests against the Assad regime swept the country, Waad taught herself how to film and became a citizen journalist, determined to document the horrors of the war. During this time, Waad began reporting for Channel 4 News in the United Kingdom. The reports she made for Channel 4 News on the conflict in Syria, and the most complex humanitarian crisis in the world, became the most watched pieces on the UK news programme – and received almost half a billion views online and won 24 awards – including the 2016 International Emmy for breaking news coverage.
Waad documented her whole life over five years in Aleppo, as she fell in love with Hamza – a doctor – and gave birth to their first daughter, Sama ("Sky") in 2015. This footage became the basis of the feature documentary released in 2019, For Sama (ANA 2019). Directed together with Edward Watts, For Sama won the Prix L'Œil d'or for best documentary at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, receiving a six-minute standing ovation.
Since fleeing Aleppo in December 2016, Waad, her husband, and their two daughters reside in London, United Kingdom. Waad also dedicates time to her advocacy campaign, Action For Sama.
In 2009, 18-year-old Waad al-Kateab moved to Aleppo to study marketing at the University of Aleppo.
In 2011, when protests against the Assad regime swept the country, Waad taught herself how to film and became a citizen journalist, determined to document the horrors of the war. During this time, Waad began reporting for Channel 4 News in the United Kingdom. The reports she made for Channel 4 News on the conflict in Syria, and the most complex humanitarian crisis in the world, became the most watched pieces on the UK news programme – and received almost half a billion views online and won 24 awards – including the 2016 International Emmy for breaking news coverage.
Waad documented her whole life over five years in Aleppo, as she fell in love with Hamza – a doctor – and gave birth to their first daughter, Sama ("Sky") in 2015. This footage became the basis of the feature documentary released in 2019, For Sama (ANA 2019). Directed together with Edward Watts, For Sama won the Prix L'Œil d'or for best documentary at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, receiving a six-minute standing ovation.
Since fleeing Aleppo in December 2016, Waad, her husband, and their two daughters reside in London, United Kingdom. Waad also dedicates time to her advocacy campaign, Action For Sama.
In 2009, 18-year-old Waad al-Kateab moved to Aleppo to study marketing at the University of Aleppo.
In 2011, when protests against the Assad regime swept the country, Waad taught herself how to film and became a citizen journalist, determined to document the horrors of the war. During this time, Waad began reporting for Channel 4 News in the United Kingdom. The reports she made for Channel 4 News on the conflict in Syria, and the most complex humanitarian crisis in the world, became the most watched pieces on the UK news programme – and received almost half a billion views online and won 24 awards – including the 2016 International Emmy for breaking news coverage.
Waad documented her whole life over five years in Aleppo, as she fell in love with Hamza – a doctor – and gave birth to their first daughter, Sama ("Sky") in 2015. This footage became the basis of the feature documentary released in 2019, For Sama (ANA 2019). Directed together with Edward Watts, For Sama won the Prix L'Œil d'or for best documentary at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, receiving a six-minute standing ovation.
Since fleeing Aleppo in December 2016, Waad, her husband, and their two daughters reside in London, United Kingdom. Waad also dedicates time to her advocacy campaign, Action For Sama.