Alaa Hassan is a Syrian/American artist and documentarian with a focus on film, photography and audio-visual arts. Alaa’s work is concerned with the issues of political prosecution, immigration and collective memory. His photography book "Cardboard Castle" (2017) explores the political advertisement and the urban development of Damascus. Alaa has participated in multiple exhibitions, including “Existing Elsewhere” in Berlin 2020, “Photoville” in New York, 2017, and “Journées de la Photographie” in Damascus, 2010 and 2011.
Hassan’s filmmaking career started as he co-produced the award-winning feature documentary "The War Show" (2016), directed by Andreas Dalsgaard and Obaidah Zytoon. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, was shown globally and was awarded with multiple honors. His most recent documentary was co-produced with director Megan Mylan and titled: “Simple as Water” (2021), the film was shortlisted for the academy awards 2022.
Feature Films:
Simple as water 2021 (co-producer)
This film was directed by Academy award winner Megan Mylan. The production of the film took place in Syria, Germany, Turkey, Greece and the USA.
The War Show 2016 Producer, co-writer, co-edior
"The War Show” was a Danish Syrian production. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and won the Venice Days award along many other awards and recognition, the film was broadcasted in five continents and received critical acclaim. Including the Bodil awards in Denmark and the European film award.
Hassan’s filmmaking career started as he co-produced the award-winning feature documentary "The War Show" (2016), directed by Andreas Dalsgaard and Obaidah Zytoon. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival, was shown globally and was awarded with multiple honors. His most recent documentary was co-produced with director Megan Mylan and titled: “Simple as Water” (2021), the film was shortlisted for the academy awards 2022.
Feature Films:
Simple as water 2021 (co-producer)
This film was directed by Academy award winner Megan Mylan. The production of the film took place in Syria, Germany, Turkey, Greece and the USA.
The War Show 2016 Producer, co-writer, co-edior
"The War Show” was a Danish Syrian production. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and won the Venice Days award along many other awards and recognition, the film was broadcasted in five continents and received critical acclaim. Including the Bodil awards in Denmark and the European film award.
Photobook:
Cardboard Castle 2017
Cardboard Castle is a curation of 5 years of photography 2006-2011 that documents the urban development and political advertisement in Damascus, Syria. The book was supported by the Prince Claus Fund and the British Council
Exhibitions/ Installations:
-2022 "Dream Glitching" as part of "The hanging gardens" art festival, Berlin.
-2021 Group exhibition at Ouyoun Gallery- Berlin
-2020 Existing Elsewhere: Audio-visual installation at coculture Berlin
2019 Cardboard Castle at Ori Berlin
2017 Cardboard Castle Propaganda brain washer audio visual installation at Photoville, New York.
-Projections of the video art project “the boot”:
2019 Brussels Mouassem festival
2014 Syrian mobile film festival
2013 Look3 festival in Charlottesville, VA. Projection of the movie “the boot”
2013 Le festival du nouveau cinéma à Montreal projection of “the boot”
2013 SXSW festival in Tesax.
2011 “Journe`es de la photographie”. Joint photography exhibition organized by the French Cultural Center in Damascus.
2010 “Journe`es de la photographie”. Joint photography exhibition organized by the French Cultural Center in Damascus.
2010 Solo Photography exhibition in Ninar art café, March- April.
2009 Joint Photography exhibition in the university Lyon III.
2017 Cardboard Castle Propaganda brain washer audio visual installation at Photoville, New York.
-Projections of the video art project “the boot”:
2019 Brussels Mouassem festival
2014 Syrian mobile film festival
2013 Look3 festival in Charlottesville, VA. Projection of the movie “the boot”
2013 Le festival du nouveau cinéma à Montreal projection of “the boot”
2013 SXSW festival in Tesax.
2011 “Journe`es de la photographie”. Joint photography exhibition organized by the French Cultural Center in Damascus.
2010 “Journe`es de la photographie”. Joint photography exhibition organized by the French Cultural Center in Damascus.
2010 Solo Photography exhibition in Ninar art café, March- April.
2009 Joint Photography exhibition in the university Lyon III.