Vittne

About the project:

video · 11:55 · Syria-Sweden · Swedish & Arabic

Vittne (witness) is a deeply personal journey through archival footage captured during a family's escape from war-torn Syria. Seen through the eyes of a child and a teenager, the film documents their turbulent migration. A decade later, they revisit these images, uncovering the emotions and memories preserved within each frame. Through this archival lens, the film explores the power of recorded memory and offers a unique perspective on war and migration.

This film idea has been with Ahmad since childhood when he first learned to edit on his school iPad. He asked his sister for the footage she had recorded, and it sat forgotten on his disk for nearly a decade. When he began studying filmmaking, he rediscovered the footage which eventually led to the creation of the final documentary. The goal of the film is to raise awareness about the experiences of war refuges and highlight a child’s perspective, which is often overlooked by the mainstream media. The film ultimately contributes to reinforcing humanity in a world increasingly marked by darkness and polarisation.