Abbas Fahdel, a cinematic storyteller, was born in the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq. His 18th year marked a turning point, as he departed for France, where he would dedicate himself to the pursuit of cinematic excellence at the prestigious Sorbonne University, ultimately earning a Ph.D. degree. It wasn't until 2002 that he returned to his homeland, now armed with a French passport.
This return to his roots served as the foundation for his thought-provoking documentary, Retour à Babylone (2002),in which he delved into the lives of his childhood friends, pondering the profound impact of his own decision to forge a different path. The tumultuous backdrop of the country's fragile situation added complexity to his introspective inquiry.
As war loomed on the horizon in February 2003, Abbas Fahdel returned to Iraq, driven by a mix of motivations, including the desire to capture his family and friends on film and the superstitious hope of shielding them from the impending dangers. When the conflict erupted, he retreated to France, only to re-emerge two months later, confronted by a country ravaged by violence, its people struggling to rebuild in the wake of the toppled dictatorship.
This pivotal moment in Iraq's history inspired the creation of his second documentary, Nous les Irakiens (2004),a poignant exploration of the human experience. In 2008, Abbas Fahdel ventured into feature filmmaking with L'aube du monde (2008),a war drama that offered a nuanced portrayal of the far-reaching consequences of the Gulf Wars on the region known as the biblical Garden of Eden.
Years later, in 2015, his monumental documentary, Homeland (Iraq Year Zero) (2015),garnered widespread critical acclaim, earning recognition at esteemed film festivals such as Visions du Réel, Locarno, Yamagata, Carthage, Montreal, and Milano. His feature film, Yara (2018),was subsequently selected for prominent festivals including Locarno, Mar del Plata, Gijon, Los Angeles, Athena, and Carthage.
