As I Was a Tree / Ko sem bil drevo

Jalal Maghout
2024, Syria, Germany, 17’

In a surreal odyssey, the Self seeks escape.

V nadrealistični odisejadi Jaz išče izhod.

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Language: None
Technique: 2D animation, drawn on paper
Recommended for children under 14 years of age: No

Team

Written, directed and animated by Jalal Maghout
Sound Design, Singing: Larissa Kischk 
Re-recording Mix: Nicolas Voss
Music: Marcus Sander

Jalal Maghout

is an animation filmmaker from Syria. He started his film career in 2010 with "Creatures of Inexistence", which was his bachelor’s project at the University of Damascus. Upon graduating, he worked at the university as a Visual Arts lecturer. In 2013, his short film "Canvas on Mixed Media" was presented in Annecy and screened on ARTE. Soon after, he left Syria for Berlin, where he started working on his animadoc "Suleima", which premiered at the DOK Leipzig 2014. It was also the first ever Arabic entry to be selected for the short film competition at Annecy 2015. Jalal premiered his film "Up Here, with the White Gods" at ITFS 2020. In the same year, he completed a master’s degree (with honors) at the Film University Babelsberg. His graduation film, "Have a Nice Dog!", premiered at Filmfest Dresden and has since screened at numerous festivals, winning multiple awards. Most notably, the film qualified for the Animation Short Film Oscar 2020 by winning the Grand Prix in Uppsala. In addition, Jalal also served as a jury member at the ITFS, Annecy, and other festivals. 

Find more: @jalalmaghout