Biography

Born in 1937 in Baghdad, this cinematic maestro studied filmmaking at the Higher Institute of Cinema in the United Kingdom. His cinematic journey began in 1953, producing documentaries for the Iraqi Oil Company's film production unit, working as a cinematographer and editor. He ventured into global cinema with films like "Mouse Hunt" by Paul Rotha and "Fox's Eye in the Desert." Notably, he directed the horror film "The Spell," filmed in Mosul, Northern Iraq. Returning to Iraq, he co-directed the film "Abu Hila" in 1963 with director Gerges Youssef Hamad. His notable works include editing the historical film "Nebuchadnezzar," the first colored Iraqi film, and directing films like "Seeing Good" (1968), "The Thirsty" (1973), and the epic "The Walls" (1979) depicting Iraq's struggle during pivotal historical periods. In 1982, he directed the monumental film "The Grand Issue," featuring international actors, including Oliver Reed. This cinematic masterpiece portrays the Iraqi people's resistance against British occupation and their support for the Egyptian people during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the uprising in Iraq. In the same year, he directed "The Mission Continues," blending documentary and narrative elements, depicting a true story of an Iraqi pilot's ordeal during the Iran-Iraq War. Subsequently, he directed films like "The Knight and the Mountain," "Iraqi Wedding," "The Game," and "King Ghazi."