For Sama

2019 film by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts

For Sama

Directed by|

* Waad Al-Kateab
* Edward Watts

Produced by| Waad Al-Kateab
Starring|

* Hamza al-Kateab
* Sama Al-Kateab
* Waad Al-Kateab

Cinematography| Waad Al-Kateab
Edited by| Chloe Lambourne
Simon McMahon
Music by| Nainita Desai

Production
companies

PBS Frontline
Channel 4 News
ITN Productions

Distributed by| PBS Distribution (US)
Republic Film Distribution (UK)

Release dates

* March 11, 2019 (2019-03-11) (SXSW)

* November 19, 2019 (2019-11-19) (PBS)

Running time

| 100 minutes
Countries|

* Syria
* United Kingdom
* United States[1]

Languages| Syrian Arabic
English
Box office| US$1.3 million[2][3]

For Sama (Arabic: من أجل سما, romanized: min ʾajl Samā) is a 2019 documentary film produced and narrated by Waad Al-Kateab, and directed by Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts. The film focuses on Waad Al-Kateab's journey as a journalist and rebel in the Syrian uprising. Her husband is Hamza al-Kateab, one of the few doctors left in Aleppo, and they raise their daughter Sama Al-Kateab during the Syrian Civil War.

The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest festival on March 11, 2019,[4] where it won the Documentary Feature Competition's Grand Jury and Audience Awards.[5]

For Sama made history when it was nominated in four categories in the BAFTA awards, making it the most nominated documentary ever.[6] It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.[7]

## Premise

[edit]

The film shows Waad al-Kateab's life through five years in Aleppo, Syria before and during The Battle of Aleppo. An economics student at the University of Aleppo when the uprising began in 2011, we watch as she falls in love, gives birth to her first daughter Sama and navigates motherhood all while the conflict begins to engulf the city. She and her husband, a doctor at one of the few remaining hospitals in the city, face an agonising decision to flee to safety or stay behind to help the innocent victims of war.

## Cast

[edit]

* Hamza al-Kateab
* Sama al-Kateab
* Waad al-Kateab

## Reception

[edit]

### Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 98% based on 99 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "As intimate as it is heartbreakingly resonant, For Sama powerfully distills the difficult choices faced by citizens of war-torn regions."[8] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 89 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[9]

Ian Freer of Empire, wrote "It will break your heart", and he further added, "For Sama powerfully mixes the personal and the political to thought-provoking, emotional ends. The result is one of the best documentaries of 2019".[10] David Jenkins of the Little White Lies wrote, "This tough but vital documentary depicts the savage bombardment of Aleppo from a female perspective".[11] Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "[For Sama] The result is a series of deeply powerful images showing the human casualties of a war that most of us witnessed from our TV sets or computer screens, but that al-Kateab and her husband lived on a daily basis for many years".[12] Guy Lodge of the Variety wrote, "This ragged, remarkable act of cinematic witnessing sees a young woman finding her voice – as an activist, as an artist and as a parent – above the crashing, whistling din of warfare. Amid a surfeit of devastating reports from the ruins, it's one we haven't yet heard".[13]

### Awards and nominations

[edit]

For Sama made history by becoming the BAFTA's most-nominated feature documentary. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced the film has been nominated in four categories, Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer; Outstanding British film; Best film not in the English language and Best documentary.[14][15] For Sama won multiple awards at the British Independent Film Awards in December 2019 including: best British independent film, best documentary, best director and best editing.[16][17]

For Sama was granted "L'oeil d'or", the best documentary movie award in Cannes Film Festival in 2019.[18][19] The documentary was nominated for an Oscar at the 92nd Academy Awards in the Documentary Feature category.[20][21][22]

Award  | Category  | Recipient  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Academy Awards | Best Documentary Feature | Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts  | Nominated  | [23][24][25]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Documentary Feature Film  | For Sama | Nominated  |
Austin Film Critics Association | Best Documentary  | Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts  | Nominated  |
British Academy Film Awards | Best Documentary | Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts  | Won  |
Best Film Not in the English Language | Nominated
Outstanding British Film | Nominated
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer | Nominated
British Independent Film Awards | Best Director  | Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts  | Won  |
Best British Independent Film  | Won
Best Documentary  | Won
Best Editing  | Chloe Lambourne and Simon McMahon  | Won
Best Music  | Nainita Desai  | Nominated
56th Guldbagge Awards | Best Foreign Film | Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts  | Won  | [26][27]
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Documentary Feature | Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts  | Nominated  |
Peabody Awards | Documentary  | For Sama | Won  | [28]
38th Robert Awards | Best Non-English-language Feature  | For Sama | Nominated  | [29][30]
Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award | Seigenthaler Prize  | For Sama | Won  | [31]
48th International Emmy Awards | Best Documentary | For Sama | Won  | [32]
Guldbagge  | Best Foreign Film  | For Sama  | Won  | [33]
Sofia Documental  | Audience Award  | Waad Al-Kateab  | Won
P&V Foundation  | Citizenship award  | For Sama  | Won

## Social impact

[edit]

As For Sama got a lot of international attention, Waad Al-Kateab launched an advocacy campaign in the name of Action for Sama to advocate for the civilians of Syria. Her campaign attracted the attention of some of the most internationally known actors and actresses.

People's emotional reaction to the film is what she hopes will prompt them to action, but for the decision makers and those who have power, she expects more than just emotions after seeing her film. "Many people came to me crying and said they are so sorry that they let that happen. [...] It shows you how many people care. But on the level of decision makers [...] We have tried so hard to push for action, do something, to make sure these things don't continue to happen. [...] If you are in a position where you can change something, I don't want your tears, I want you to do something, you can make a difference," says Waad Al Kateab quietly but firmly.[34]

## See also

[edit]

* Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)
* Media coverage of the Syrian Civil War
* The Cave (2019 Syrian film)
* Notturno (film)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "For Sama". Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
2. ^ "For Sama (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
3. ^ "For Sama (2019)". Box Office Mojo.
4. ^ "For Sama". South by Southwest. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
5. ^ "2019 Award Winners". South by Southwest. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
6. ^ "Syrian war documentary "For Sama" makes history with 4 British film award nominations". Arab News. 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
7. ^ Husted, Anne (13 January 2020). "For Sama Receives Academy Award® Nomination for Best Documentary Feature". FRONTLINE. PBS. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
8. ^ "For Sama (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
9. ^ "For Sama". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
10. ^ "For Sama". Empire. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
11. ^ "For Sama review – A film that must be seen to be believed". Little White Lies. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
12. ^ "'For Sama': Film Review | SXSW 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
13. ^ Lodge, Guy (2019-05-01). "Film Review: 'For Sama'". Variety. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
14. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2020-01-07). "Syrian War Film 'For Sama' Scores Record Number Of BAFTA Nominations For A Documentary". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
15. ^ "Syrian war documentary "For Sama" makes history with 4 British film award nominations". Arab News. 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
16. ^ Stewart Clarke (December 1, 2019). "'David Copperfield,' 'For Sama,' Renee Zellweger Win at British Independent Film Awards". Variety.
17. ^ Jeremy Fuster (December 1, 2019). "'For Sama,' Renee Zellweger Win Big at British Independent Film Awards". The Wrap.
18. ^ "" Pour Sama ", le massacre des innocents à Alep". La Croix (in French). 2019-10-08. ISSN 0242-6056. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
19. ^ "Cannes 2019 : les documentaires "Pour Sama" et "La cordillère des songes" primés à l'Œil d'or". Franceinfo (in French). 2019-05-25. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
20. ^ "Academy Unveils 2020 Oscar Shortlists". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 December 2019.
21. ^ "Oscar nominations 2020: 'Joker' leads with 11; Greta Gerwig snubbed for best director; complete list of nominees". The Washington Post. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
22. ^ "Oscars 2020 nominations: Full list of nominees including Joker, Little Women and Jojo Rabbit". Telegraph. January 13, 2020.
23. ^ 2020 Oscar Nominations List: Academy Award Nominees – Variety
24. ^ "American Factory" wins Best Documentary Feature-Oscars on YouTube
25. ^ "The 92nd Academy Awards | 2020". Oscars.org. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. February 9, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
26. ^ "2020 års Guldbaggenomineringar!". Guldbaggen.se. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
27. ^ Adelai, Amina; Farran-Lee, Lydia (25 January 2021). "Charter och Spring Uje spring tog hem de tunga priserna". SVT (in Swedish). Retrieved 25 January 2021.
28. ^ Schneider, Michael (June 10, 2020). "'Stranger Things,' 'When They See Us,' 'Watchmen' Among This Year's Peabody Award Winners". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
29. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (9 February 2021). "Another Round triumphs at the 2021 Robert Awards". Cineuropa. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
30. ^ "Nominations for the Robert Awards 2021 announced". Danish Film Institute. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
31. ^ Cho, Minhee (June 4, 2020). "Announcing the Winners of the 2020 Robert F. Kennedy Book and Journalism Awards". APNews. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
32. ^ "2020 INTERNATIONAL EMMY® WINNERS ANNOUNCED LIVE AT CEREMONY HELD FROM NEW YORK CITY". International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
33. ^ "For Sama awards - IMDB". IMDb.
34. ^ Waad, Al Kateeb (3 July 2020). "Syrian filmmaker Waad Al Kateab: 'I don't want your tears. I want action'". Infomigrants.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Kate Brannen (November 19, 2019). "To watch "For Sama" is to bear witness". Just Security.

## External links

[edit]

* Official site
* Frontline: For Sama
* For Sama at IMDb
* Channel 4: For Sama

Awards for For Sama

* v
* t
* e

BAFTA Award for Best Documentary

1948–1989|

* Louisiana Story (1948)
* Daybreak in Udi (1949)
* The Undefeated (1950)
* Beaver Valley (1951)
* Royal Journey (1952)
* The Conquest of Everest (1953)
* The Great Adventure (Det Stora äventyret) (1954)
* The Vanishing Prairie (1955)
* On the Bowery (1956)
* Journey into Spring (1957)
* Glass (Glas) (1958)
* The Savage Eye (1959)
* Dispute (1960)
* Volcano (Le Rendezvous du diable) (1961)
* Four Line Conics (1962)
* Individual Honour (1963)
* Nobody Waved Good-bye (1964)
* Tokyo Olympiad (1965)
* Goal! The World Cup (1966)
* To Die in Madrid (1967)
* In Need of Special Care (1968)
* Prologue (1969)
* Sad Song of Yellow Skin (1970)
* The Hellstrom Chronicle (1971)
* Cutting Oils and Fluids (1972)
* Grierson (1973)
* Cree Hunters of Mistassini (1974)
* The Early Americans (1975)
* The Canadians (Los Canadienses) (1976)
* No Award (1977)
* The Silent Witness (1978)
* The Tree of Wooden Clogs (1979)
* No Award (1980)
* Soldier Girls (1981)
* Burden of Dreams (1982)
* Schindler (1983)
* 28 Up (1984)
* Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story (1985)
* Shoah (1986)
* Baka – People of the Rainforest (1987)
* Death on the Rock (1988)
* Four Hours in My Lai (1989)

2005|

* The Orphans of Nkandla (2005)

2011–present|

* Senna (2011)
* Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
* The Act of Killing (2013)
* Citizenfour (2014)
* Amy (2015)
* 13th (2016)
* I Am Not Your Negro (2017)
* Free Solo (2018)
* For Sama (2019)
* My Octopus Teacher (2020)
* Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)
* Navalny (2022)
* 20 Days in Mariupol (2023)
* Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)

* Between 1990–2012, the documentaries continued to be honoured at the British Academy Television Awards.

* v
* t
* e

British Independent Film Award for Best British Independent Film

* My Name Is Joe (1998)
* Wonderland (1999)
* Billy Elliot (2000)
* Sexy Beast (2001)
* Sweet Sixteen (2002)
* Dirty Pretty Things (2003)
* Vera Drake (2004)
* The Constant Gardener (2005)
* This Is England (2006)
* Control (2007)
* Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
* Moon (2009)
* The King's Speech (2010)
* Tyrannosaur (2011)
* Broken (2012)
* Metro Manila (2013)
* Pride (2014)
* Ex Machina (2015)
* American Honey (2016)
* God's Own Country (2017)
* The Favourite (2018)
* For Sama (2019)
* Rocks (2020)
* After Love (2021)
* Aftersun (2022)
* All of Us Strangers (2023)
* Kneecap (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Guldbagge Award for Best Foreign Film

* Bagdad Cafe (1987)
* A World Apart (1989)
* Time of the Gypsies (1990)
* Monsieur Hire (1991)
* Husbands and Wives (1992)
* The Piano (1993)
* Short Cuts (1994)
* Before the Rain (1995)
* Breaking the Waves (1996)
* The Ice Storm (1997)
* Festen (1998)
* All About My Mother (1999)
* Magnolia (2000)
* Amélie (2001)
* The Man Without a Past (2002)
* The Hours (2003)
* The Return (2004)
* L'Enfant (2005)
* The Lives of Others (2006)
* This Is England (2007)
* Lust, Caution (2008)
* The White Ribbon (2009)
* Lourdes (2010)
* A Separation (2011)
* Amour (2012)
* Blue Is the Warmest Colour (2013)
* Two Days, One Night (2014)
* Leviathan (2015)
* Son of Saul (2016)
* The Salesman (2017)
* Shoplifters (2018)
* Parasite (2019)
* For Sama (2020)
* Flee (2021)

* v
* t
* e

International Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary

1960s|

* Big Deal at Gothenburg (1967)
* La Section Anderson (1968)
* The Last Campaign of Robert Kennedy (1969)

1970s|

* No Awards (1970–1978)
* Secret Hospital (1979)

1980s|

* Fighting Back (1980)
* Charter pour l'enfer (1981)
* Is There One Who Understands Me?: The World of James Joyce (1982)
* The Miracle of Life (1983)
* Heart of the Dragon (1984)
* 28 Up (1985)
* Chasing a Rainbow: The Life of Josephine Baker (1986)
* The Sword of Islam (1987)
* The Last Seven Months of Anne Frank (1988)
* Four Hours in My Lai (1989)

1990s|

* J'ai Douze Ans et Je Fais la Guerre (1990)
* Cambodia: The Betrayal (1991)
* To Sell a War (1992)
* Disappearing World: We Are All Neighbours / Monika and Jonas – the Face of the Informer State (1993)
* Life in the Freezer: The Big Freeze (1994)
* Anne Frank Remembered / Contre L'Oubli (1995)
* The Pelican of Ramzan the Red / People's Century / The Saga of Life: The Unknown World (1996)
* Gerrie & Louise (1997)
* Exile in Sarajevo (1998)
* 14 Up Born in the USSR / Just Like Anyone Else (1999)

2000s|

* Kapo (2000)
* Welcome to North Korea (2001)
* The Power of Good: Nicholas Winton (2002)
* Das Leben geht weiter (2003)
* The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off (2004)
* Das Drama von Dresden (2005)
* Hiroshima: BBC History of World War II (2006)
* Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive (2007)
* The Beckoning Silence (2008)
* The Ascent of Money (2009)

2010s|

* Mom and the Red Bean Cake (2010)
* Life with Murder (2011)
* Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die (2012)
* 5 Broken Cameras (2013)
* No Burqas Behind Bars (2014)
* Miners Shot Down (2015)
* Krieg der Lügen (2016)
* Exodus: Our Journey to Europe (2017)
* Goodbye Aleppo (2018)
* Bellingcat: Truth in a Post-Truth World (2019)

2020s|

* For Sama (2020)
* Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice (2021)
* Iraq's Lost Generation (2022)
* Mariupol: The People’s Story (2023)
* Otto Baxter: Not a F**ing Horror Story (2024)

* v
* t
* e

European Film Award for Best Documentary

* Recsk 1950-1953: The Story Of A Secret Concentration Camp In Communist Hungary (1989)
* The Crossroad (1990)
* Hear My Cry (1991)
* Earth of the Blind (1992)
* Misfits To Yuppies (1993)
* Angels of Sarajevo (1994)
* Viva Stalin (1995)
* Vendetta - Blood Revenge in Albania (1996)
* Gigi, Monica... et Bianca (1997)
* Tableau avec chutes (1998)
* Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
* The Gleaners and I (2000)
* Black Box BRD (2001)
* To Be and to Have (2002)
* S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine (2003)
* Darwin's Nightmare (2004)
* The Pipeline Next Door (2005)
* Into Great Silence (2006)
* Paper Cannot Wrap Up Embers (2007)
* René (2008)
* The Sound of Insects – Records of a Mummy (2009)
* Nostalgia for the Light (2010)
* Pina (2011)
* Winter Nomad (2012)
* The Act of Killing (2013)
* Master of the Universe (2014)
* Amy (2015)
* Fire at Sea (2016)
* Communion (2017)
* Bergman: A Year in a Life (2018)
* For Sama (2019)
* Collective (2020)
* Flee (2021)
* Mariupolis 2 (2022)
* Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023)
* No Other Land (2024)

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