Citizen Osama documentary premieres at Venice Film Festival

The documentary ‘Citizen Osama’, directed by Ahmed Hassouna, has been screened at the Venice Film Festival and selected as the Palestinian entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the upcoming Academy Awards.

The film follows the daily life of Osama al-Ashi, a Palestinian father and journalist in Gaza City, as he attempts to protect his family amidst the ongoing conflict. The documentary depicts the severe hardships faced by residents in the Gaza Strip, including the struggle to find basic necessities like formula, diapers, and clean food.

The footage captures the destruction within Gaza, showing residents digging through rubble by hand to recover the wounded and deceased following bombings. The film provides a ground-level perspective on the humanitarian crisis following the October 7, 2023, conflict.