Mohamed Al-Daradji studied in Baghdad, Iraq and Hilversum, Netherlands before travelling to the UK to complete Masters degrees in Cinematography and Directing at the Northern Film School in Leeds. In 2003, following the invasion of Iraq, Mohamed returned to his native country to make his first feature film, Ahlaam. The film screened at over 125 international festivals, receiving 22 awards, as well as Academy Award and Golden Globe consideration, establishing Mohamed as a revered international filmmaker. Following the success of Ahlaam, Mohamed directed the multi-award winning and critically acclaimed, Son of Babylon (2010). His extensive work in Iraq also includes three long form documentaries as well as humanitarian work. In 2010, he established the Iraq Independent Film Center (IIFC); a film production and training institution based in Baghdad. The Journey (2017) is Mohamed’s third feature film, exploring the conflicted and confused state of mind of a female suicide bomber.
The Asia Pacific Screen Academy expresses its respect for and acknowledgement of the South East Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of country, including the custodial communities on whose land works are created and celebrated by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. We acknowledge the continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We also pay our respects to Elders, past and present. We recognise the integral role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and First Nations peoples continue to play in storytelling and celebration spaces.
