Samir

Born in 1955 in Baghdad, Iraq. Migrated with his family to Switzerland in the 60s. After studying at the School of Arts in Zurich, apprenticeship as a typographer. In the late 70s, training as a cameraman. Activist in the Radical Youth Movement in the early 80s in Zurich. First works as freelance author and director in 1982. Today Samir is well known for his unique fiction, documentary and experimental films, whose innovative character drew attention at various festivals and won numerous awards. His work to this day encompasses more than 40 short and full-length feature films for cinema and television. In the 90s he also worked as a director for national and international broadcasters. In 1994 he took over “Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion” with filmmaker Werner Schweizer and producer Karin Koch. Based in Zurich, it builds up new Swiss film talents. Beside his own projects as an independent producer and director, he is also known for directing theatre plays and works in the field of visual arts. A selection of Samir’s films which he wrote and directed: “Forget Baghdad” (2002), “Iraqi Odyssey” (2014) and “Baghdad in My Shadow” (2019). His more recent works in 2023 include: “Stranger in My Village” and “The Miraculous Transformation of the Working Class into Foreigners”. Samir Also produced numerous films as well, which include: “White Terror” (2005), “Faulein” (2006), “Operation Libertad” (2012) and his latest film that is currently in production “Al Basser”.