SHORT BIO
Yaser Kassab is a filmmaker and producer, known for his award-winning documentary film trilogy that spans over a decade, which offers a personal and poetic perspective on the Syrian tragedy.
He is a graduate of Gothenburg University, where he earned a Master's degree in film, with a focus on representational issues.
EDUCATION
Master of Fine Arts in Film,University of Gothenburg, 2022
Forsa Folkhögskola/ Photography project, 2020
Gamleby Folkhögskola/ Fotografiska processor, 2019
Mullsjö Folkhogskola/ Photography, 2019
Bachelor of Economics, Aleppo university, 2011
WORKSHOPS
Scottish Documentary Institute, Connecting Stories, International mentorship scheme/ 2021
For Developing "Chasing The Dazzling Light"
Mentor: Saeed Taji Farouki.
DW academy, Video journalism/ 2015
Intensive courses for becoming a video journalist for children TV programme Jalla Nehna.
Trainers: Nasir Al-jezairi, Ute Mattigkeit, Samah Altaweel.
Bidayyat for audiovisual arts, Developing feature documentaries/ 2014
Three long course for developing "On the edge of life"
Trainers: Ali Essafi, Mohamad Soueid, Ghassan Salhab, Rania Stephan.
Bidayyat for audiovisual arts,, Film proposal writing/ 2014
Film proposal writing and film distribution
Trainer: Jinane Dagher.
NEWS
World records Journal in their latest volume address the questions "How do generations engage in political struggle together, even as their horizons diverge?"
and they published several articles that reflect on the Syrian cinema.
Nicolas Appelt writes an article "Bidayyat \ Intimate Exile"
As part of the colloquium "Creations proof of exile of war" at Université Sorbonne, Camille Leprince will present an analysis of the Syrian film On the edge of life by Yaser Kassab and Rima Alhamedd, the/ panel Genres, shapes, spaces from 11:45 to 1.15 p.m.
The Seminar will be streamed online:
meet.google.com/zvv-ssiz-oti
Poster signed Misha Zavalny, No Enter Zone.
DOKUMENTÄRFOTOSALONG 2020: KAOS at Norrköping arbetarmuseum
Photography exhebition at Oslo City Campaign, Berlin City Campaign
FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL
ON THE EDGE OF LIFE – Prix du jury
de Yasser Kassab (Syrie, 2017, documentaire, 44 minutes)
Rima and Yasser fled Syria. They are in Beirut, then somewhere in Turkey, as prisoners of an indefinite no man’s land. Yaser Kassab films his companion Rima, the soulless decor where they found refuge, the moon, the pupil full in an eye of black clouds. And everywhere resonate the words of loved ones left in Syria, the guilt of not being there to survive or die with them.
https://www.espace-1789.com/film/festival-du-film-de-famille-le-palmar%C3%A8s-0
"On the edge of life" as a Best documentary and Best mid-length documentary at Tirana Film Festival
Jury's motivation:
"A heart-rending personal essay on grief and uprooting, on the limbo states of existence"
"On the edge of life" best -mid-length documentary at Festival dei Popoli
jury's motivation:
"Both lyrical and personal, this film relates an urgent and all-too-common experience today employing a unique cinematic language which creates an important space for contemplation. A story of survival in a contemporary moment of uncertainty, the film gathers textures and images which attest to displacement and struggle but also their representation. Generous, open, subtle and filled with unsuspecting poetry, this film demonstrates how art, cinema and human connection are integral to existence in dire circumstances."
European Foundation Joris Ivens jury's motivation for the award as a best first film in the 39th edition of cinema du reel film festival.
Yaser Kassab transcend the process of mourning, developing a particular cinematic treatment of space, both internal and external.
I have seen nothing, I have seen all
لم أر شيئاً، رأيت كل شيئ
Duration: 19 min documentary
Production country: Syria, Lebanon, Sweden 2019
Written & Directed by: Yaser Kassab
Producer: Mohamad Ali Atassi & Yaser Kassab
Production company: Bidayyat for Audiovisual arts & Zenloop productions
Film editor: Rima Alhamedd
Sound Mix: Bertrand Larrieu
Synopsis:
After talking about the end of the war in Syria and the start of the reconstruction phase, thousands of kilometers separate Yaser in Sweden from his parents in Aleppo. When both find themselves compelled to transfer the grave of the younger brother from the public park.
Screenings:
World premiere, 50th edition of Vision du reel, official competition, April 2019
Mediteran film festival
Open city documentary festival
Carthage film festival Oct 2019
Festival dei popoli Nov 2019
Escales Documentaires nov 2019
IDFA, paradox Nov 2019
Cairo international film festival
London short film festival
AFLAM 6e Rencontres Internationales de Cinéma.
PCMMO - Panorama des cinémas du Maghreb et du Moyen-Orient
Toronto Arab film festival.
Leiden Shorts
Syrian Doc days, Copenhagen
Sharjah art foundation
Awards:
Best short documentary, Sharjah film platform.
Reviews:
- In Arabic
"لم أرَ شيئاً، رأيتُ كلّ شيء": حين تصبح المقابر السورية "كومبليه" ندى الأزهري
- Lost outside time/ Francesca Borri
Available to watch in UK, USA, Click here
On The Edge Of Life
على حافة الحياة
Duration: 45 MIn documentary
Production country: Syria, 2017
Directed by: Yaser Kassab & Rima Alhamedd
Production company: Zenloop productions
Sound Mix: Bertrand Larrieu
Synopsis:
Yaser transcendent from a remote and an empty rest stop in Turkey the process of mourning after losing his younger brother in Aleppo, a relationship with his father has been evolved to a strong emotional connection, although the noisy voice calls and messages
Screenings:
World premiered, Cinema du reel film festival in the 39th edition ,Paris, March 2017,
South America premiere , Festival EDOC - Encuentros del Otro Cine, in the 16 th edition, Quito, May, 2017
Festival Silhouette, in the the16th edition, Paris, August 2017
Italian premiere, Festival dei Popoli at the 58th edition in the official selection international competition, Florence- Italy October 2017
Official competition at the 15th edition of Tirana international film festival, Nov 2017
Official competition at the 11th edition of Pravo ljudski film festival, Nov 2017
Dutch premiere, IDFA in its 28th edition, paradox section, Nov 2017
North America premiere, RIDM in it's 20th edition, Short and Medium-Length Competition, Nov 2017
At the 18th edition of Le Mois du Film Documentaire
Karama 8's official nominees for the Arab Network for Human Right Film Festivals (ANHAR)
The 13th edition of Hors Pistes festival Jan 2018
Nordic premiere at Tempo documentary film festival March, 2018
Gabes Film Festival in the short film competition, March 2018
Beirut art centre june 2018
Festival des cinémas arabes, documentary competition, Paris, july 2018
BIFED - Bozcaada International Festival of Ecological Documentary, Oct 2018
Arabisches Filmfestival, Tübingen 2018
Le Festival du Film de Famille, Nov 2018
La Cinémathèque de Toulouse, May 2021
Awards:
Joris Ivens / CNAP Prize, which goes to a film of the First International Competition in Cinema du reel film festival.
Best Mid-Length Documentary Award, in the 58th edition of Festival dei Popoli.
Best documentary and Best mid-length documentary at the 15th edition of Tirana Film Festival.
Prix du jury du 13ème Festival du Film de Famille, Nov 2018
Reviews:
-سوريا.. على حافة الحياة ٩ أبريل ٢٠١٧ محمد موسى
-تنويعات وثائقيات سورية في السرد والجمالية 30/07/2018 علاء رشيدي