Birds of War follows Lebanese journalist Janay and Syrian activist Habak over 13 years, using personal archives to chart a love story across opposing sides of the Middle East conflict.

SYNOPSIS

From besieged Aleppo to the confines of a London newsroom, Lebanese journalist Janay Boulos and Syrian activist/cameraman Abd Alkader Habak retrace their love story, using their vast personal archives stretching over 13 years of revolutions, war and exile. Can their love survive distance, danger and differences?  

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Janay Boulos (Director/Producer) is a Lebanese journalist and filmmaker with extensive experience documenting the Middle East. From 2012-2021, she worked for BBC News across television, radio and digital platforms. In 2021, she founded Habak Films with Syrian filmmaker Abd Alkader Habak. Janay has produced documentaries for BBC News and Al Jazeera Arabic, bringing Middle Eastern stories to global audiences. Her professional development includes IDFA Project Space, Documentary Campus Masterschool, and Sheffield DocFest’s Future Producer School. In 2023, she received the IDA Logan Elevate grant. 

Abd Alkader Habak (Director/Producer) brings first-hand experience as a Syrian cinematographer who documented the Syrian conflict over six years (2011-2017). Working in dangerous environments, he collaborated with BBC and CNN as cameraman and field producer. His work during the siege of Aleppo—before fleeing in 2017—resulted in extraordinary archive footage documenting the Syrian revolution and war. Now London-based, Habak continues in documentary. His recent short “Syria’s Last Chapter” was commissioned by Al Jazeera Witness (December 2024). He is also in production with a feature documentary called “Until the Buzzing Stops.