In a Syrian intelligence service prison, a university student witnesses, through the narrow food hatch of his cell, events that mirror the horrific reality of his nation. Hope is born, as prisoners keep alive the fading light of resistance in a world that has chosen to forget them.

Sherwan Haji is a Syrian-Finnish actor, writer, and director who graduated from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Damascus. His notable work includes collaborating with renowned Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismäki, starring as the lead in “The Other Side of Hope” (2017), a performance that earned him the Best Actor award at the Dublin International Film Festival. He was honored with the Asia Pacific Screen Awards Lab in 2019 and was selected for Berlinale Talents in 2020. Haji played a central role in “Cairo Conspiracy” (2022), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Sherwan Haji