When I left Aleppo, I took only my music collection and the colors of my city I could no longer recognize. Art became my language, where magic and grief could coexist. Today, I fuse these worlds into films, poems, and performances or photos. My name is Sami. I’m 32 years old, a war survivor and refugee. In 2015, I fled Aleppo after witnessing the killer eyes of a neighbor. I went to Istanbul, where I first encountered the racist eyes of strangers. Later, on the long journey to Munich in 2016, I began making videos in a basement with nothing but a borrowed camera. That’s where I discovered my passion: storytelling as survival.

Sami Al Hshem

When I left Aleppo, I took only my music collection and the colors of my city I could no longer recognize. Art became my language, where magic and grief could coexist. Today, I fuse these worlds into films, poems, and performances or photos. My name is Sami. I’m 32 years old, a war survivor and refugee. In 2015, I fled Aleppo after witnessing the killer eyes of a neighbor. I went to Istanbul, where I first encountered the racist eyes of strangers. Later, on the long journey to Munich in 2016, I began making videos in a basement with nothing but a borrowed camera. That’s where I discovered my passion: storytelling as survival.

Available to hire

When I left Aleppo, I took only my music collection and the colors of my city I could no longer recognize. Art became my language, where magic and grief could coexist. Today, I fuse these worlds into films, poems, and performances or photos. My name is Sami. I’m 32 years old, a war survivor and refugee. In 2015, I fled Aleppo after witnessing the killer eyes of a neighbor. I went to Istanbul, where I first encountered the racist eyes of strangers. Later, on the long journey to Munich in 2016, I began making videos in a basement with nothing but a borrowed camera. That’s where I discovered my passion: storytelling as survival.

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Experience Level

Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

Arabic
Fluent
English
Advanced
German
Advanced

Work Experience

Photographer at Various (fashion shows, film sets, festivals, portraits)
January 1, 2021 - Present
Photographed at events including upcycling fashion shows and mystical creatures festivals.
Director, Cameraman, Set Designer, Sound at Film Arche, Catalyst, Independent
January 1, 2017 - Present
Directed and worked on about a dozen films, including a surreal dark fantasy short. Worked as set designer, cameraman, and sound recorder on various graduation and university films.
Sound Recorder at University Film Productions
December 31, 2020 - August 6, 2025
Sound recording for university film projects.
Political Video Creator (sarcastic style) at YouTube
January 1, 2017 - Present
Produced sarcastic political videos in Arabic with titles/themes such as "Going beyond the mind's limits" and "Barat."

Education

Film Studies (Regie) at Film Arche, Berlin
September 1, 2020 - November 30, 2021
Film Studies at Bfzg GmbH, München
August 1, 2018 - November 30, 2020
Language Course German B1/B2/C1 at talc Deutsch B1/B2/C1, München
April 1, 2017 - October 31, 2017
University Studies at University of Aleppo
September 1, 2014 - September 30, 2015
Technical Drawing Studies, High School with Abitur at Gymnasium, Aleppo
September 1, 2007 - July 31, 2014
Middle School Education at Middle School, Aleppo
September 1, 1998 - July 31, 2007

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services

Experience Level

Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate