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Chronicles From the Siege

Perspectives 2026
© Issaad Film Productions
When their city is placed under siege, the lives of a group of ordinary people are turned upside down, forcing each of them to confront impossible choices in pursuit of survival in a war zone. Bodies and minds are equally under attack; and ordinary people are forced to reckon with starvation, inadequate medical treatment, snipers and bomb blasts, as they continue to live, seeking friendship, love, intimacy and the pleasure of a cigarette. At one point, a small group of cinephiles sheltering in their neighbourhood video store is confronted with the moral conundrum of whether or not to burn the movies they have rented, and cherish, to keep warm. The mental impact of the siege is boldly expressed in writing on the door of one of the characters in the ensemble which reads: “I don’t see my life outside the confines of the siege. And I don’t see an end to the siege outside of the confines of my life.”
by Abdallah Alkhatib (Director, Screenplay)
with Nadeem Rimawi, Saja Kilani, Ahmad Kontar, Samer Bisharat, Ahmed Zitouni, Wassim Fedriche, Idir Benaibouche, Abdallah Alkhatib, Emad Azmi, Maria Zreik, Omar Rammal, Hamzeh Mahadin, Nour Seraj, Hayet Abu Samar, Majd Hijawi, Omar Almajali Algeria / France / Palestine 2026 Arabic 98' Colour World premiere | Debut film

With

  • Nadeem Rimawi (Arafat)
  • Saja Kilani (Leila)
  • Ahmad Kontar (Mohammad)
  • Samer Bisharat (Youssef)
  • Ahmed Zitouni (Firas)
  • Wassim Fedriche (Walid)
  • Idir Benaibouche (Saleh)
  • Abdallah Alkhatib (Cigarette Thief)
  • Emad Azmi (Fares)
  • Maria Zreik (Huda)
  • Omar Rammal (Jafra)
  • Hamzeh Mahadin (Qusai)
  • Nour Seraj (Farah)
  • Hayet Abu Samar (Nurs Hayet)
  • Majd Hijawi (Doctor)
  • Omar Almajali (Doctor Amar)

Crew

Director Abdallah Alkhatib
Screenplay Abdallah Alkhatib
Cinematography Talal Khoury
Editing Alex Bakri
Sound Design Rana Eid
Casting Lara Abulfailat
Producers Taqiyeddine Issaad, Salah Issaad
Co-Producer Sofiane Zermani

Produced by

Issaad Film Productions

Batna, Algeria

Evidence Film

Paris, France

Co-produced by

2 Princes Films

Paris, France

World Sales

Loco Films

Paris, France

Photos

Abdallah Alkhatib

© MATHIS

The Palestinian-Syrian filmmaker studied sociology at the University of Damascus and worked as a human rights activist. He currently lives and works in Germany where he is continuing his studies in social sciences alongside his work as a filmmaker. After making his documentary Little Palestine in 2021, Chronicles From the Siege is his debut feature film.

Filmography

2021 Little Palestine - Diary of a Siege; documentary 2023 Sokrania 59; short film 2026 Chronicles From the Siege

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026