The Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) has announced the selection of Syrian filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin as a member of the Short Film Competition Jury in its upcoming 76th edition, recognizing his distinctive cinematic voice.
 
The selection marks a notable return to Berlinale where Fakher Eldin’s second feature film, Yunan, had its world premiere, being the only Arab film in the festival’s international competition.
 
Written, directed, and edited by Ameer Fakher Eldin, Yunan stars Hanna Schygulla, an icon of German cinema, alongside renowned Lebanese actor Georges Khabbaz. Since its world premiere at Berlinale, Yunan has received wide critical acclaim and several international awards, including Best Actor and Best Actress at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Best Film by The Arab Critics Awards for European films,, and most recently two Yusr Award for Best Director and Best Actor at the film’s Arab premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival.
 
Ameer Fakher Eldin was born to Syrian parents from the occupied Golan Heights, and is currently based in Germany. His poetic cinematic work explores themes of displacement, identity, exile, and the search for home. 
 
Yunan is the second feature in a planned cinematic trilogy by Fakher Eldin. The trilogy began with his debut feature The Stranger, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, was shot in the occupied Golan Heights, and was later selected among the Top 100 Arab Films by Cinemayaat (AFMI). Fakher Eldin is currently developing the third and final film in the trilogy.