Birds of War

This cinematic portrait follows Janay Boulos, a Lebanese BBC journalist living in London, and Abd Alkader Habak, a Syrian activist and cameraman, whose story reflects the broader context of conflict, identity, and forced migration. We get to know them through more than 13 years of personal archives, including revolution, civil war, the loss of loved ones, and life in exile. Their relationship began unusually: contact started with a simple SMS from Boulos, sent while she was seeking materials from people working in the conflict zone in Syria. Over time, collaboration through messages and recordings between London and Aleppo grew into a deep bond, developing alongside the dramatic events unfolding in the region.

The film also shows how Habak documents the realities of war, often risking his life in areas inaccessible to international journalists, and how Boulos begins to question the limitations of traditional media. As their relationship becomes increasingly personal, they face loss, separation, and political upheaval that shape their lives and perspectives