Mohamad Malas
Like no other, Mohamad MALAS (1945, Syria) represents the Syrian auteur cinema. He grew up under the impression of the many wars and conflicts in the region, something that was to play a central role in his later work. Malas studied Film in the early-seventies in Moscow. Back in Syria after his graduation in 1974, he gained a name as a critical and socially engaged filmmaker. He received wide international acclaim for his feature and documentary films and won a number of awards at large film festivals. Besides his films, Mohamad Malas has published film diaries, articles, essays and a novel.
Filmography
(selection) Ahlam al-madinah/Dreams of the City (1983), Al-Manam/The Dream (1987, doc), La nuit/The Night (1992), Fawqa al-raml, tahta al-shams/On the Sand, Under the Sun (1998, short doc), Bab el makam/Passion (2005), Soullam ila Diamshk/Ladder to Damascus (2013)