My cinematic prelude featured in the East Window Journal of Written and Visual Arts, volume 3, 2026
https://www.eastwindow.org/publications

Trip Ziggurat playing at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, September 26, 2026
More information here.
Film Screening and Discussion at the University of Denver
I will be screening Trip Ziggurat and other short film at the University of Denver on September 9, 2026.

Ten years ago

It’s been 10 years since we lost our dad. This photo was taken in Amman just before my father and I drove back to Baghdad in early 2004 and the beginning of an intense, life-changing journey documented in my film Nice Bombs.
We had been apart for many years and away from Iraq for more than 24 years, which made the trip deeply significant. My father, Hameed, was a risk-taker and adventurer who never needed a map. “Let’s just keep driving,” he would say, and this helped when I took my own risks and traveled and entered new and strange places.
It’s ironic that he brought us to the United States, yet was never able to truly settle here.
Becoming a father myself, growing older, and reflecting on my own childhood have given me an even deeper love and appreciation for my father.
I miss you, Dad 🤍
Trip Ziggurat now streaming on PBS Documentaries
You can also watch it on PBS Digital Studious: https://www.pbs.org/video/trip-ziggurat-89tt18/
This Has Already Happened now streaming
Watch my latest feature film on gumroad streaming site, click here: https://djinnisin.gumroad.com/l/thishasalreadyhappened

This Has Already Happened wins Jury Award

We are honored to receive the Jury Award from Pebbles Underground!
Trip Ziggurat Screening & Community Event

Trip Ziggurat Screening & Community Event on June 12 at 7pm at East Window in Boulder, CO
Featuring a Q&A with Usama Alshaibi, Lauren Samblanet, and Ramzy Abueita
Readings from Carolina Ebeid and dena harry saleh, and a presentation by Boulder-Nablus Sister City Project
Mountainfilm Festival and Trip Ziggurat

Lauren and I had such a fun and memorable experience at Mountainfilm festival! It was so great to connect and bond with other artists and filmmakers. I was also so happy to reconnect with my former students who are part of the Mountainfilm Festival crew.
Also a shoutout to Firelight Media, our amazing production studio behind our film Trip Ziggurat.





