“On The Roof of Damascus” Wins Best Direction Award at Ain Asserdoun International Film Festival

DAMASCUS, (ST)- Syrian short film “On The Roof of Damascus” directed by Almohannad Kalthoum, recently won the best direction award at the 1st Ain Asserdoun International Film Festival in Morocco.

According to director of the Festival, the film described the state most Arab countries, not only Syria, are experiencing. This state is represented in insistence to live and love despite the pains caused by war, he said, calling for using the cinema to serve society and fight terrorism which wants to kill all dreams.

“On The Roof of Damascus” has achieved the true mission of lovers at the time of war”, the festival’s director clarified.

Director of the film al-Mohannad Kalthoum said the film, which is the production of the Syrian General Cinema Establishment and written by scenarist Samer Mohammad Ismael , is the story of a whole generation who live a virtual life and are unable to achieve their dreams in real life, which became worse because of the war on Syria, but, at the same time, they announce that they want to keep living despite all kinds of death around them and to look for love though it seems impossible.

Kalthoum went on to say that “despite the war, we are still able to achieve what we aspire to, noting cinema’s ability to offer hope for all despite the difficult circumstances the Syrians are passing through”.

“On The Roof of Damascus” is only a simple piece of the many stories being lived by the Syrian youths these days,” he added.

Starring in the film are Syrian actresses Lina Hawarneh, Lara Badri and Hanouf Kharboutli and actors Wassim Kazak, Amer al-Ali, Yamen Suleiman and Hamada Salim.

Hamda Mustafa