Biography
Mohammad Ali Atassi is a journalist and documentary filmmaker. His research interests include film and media studies, sociology, Middle Eastern studies, Islam, human rights, art and politics.
In 2013, he founded Bidayyat for Audiovisual Arts, Beirut and Damascus, where he is currently Executive Director. Past positions include Director, Kayani Project for Audiovisual Arts, Beirut and Damascus (2011–2012); Associate Researcher, Institut Français du Proche Orient, Beirut (2004–2009) and journalist at the Lebanese daily An Nahar, Beirut (2000–2009). He also served as a member of the Group EuroMed et les Medias, in collaboration with the European Commission (2004).
He has directed four documentary films: Our Terrible Country (2014), Ibn al-am Online [The Cousin Online] (2012), Waiting for Abu Zaid (2010) and Ibn al-am [The Cousin] (2001). Among his film awards are Best Audience and Best Youth Jury Awards, Punto de Vista Festival, Pamplona, Spain (2015); Grand Prize, International Competition, FID Marseille (2014); Best Film, International Competition, Forumdoc Festival, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2014) and Best Syrian Documentary Prize, Dox Box International Documentary Film Festival, Damascus (2011).
Atassi has authored a number of articles and interviews in academic and cultural journals such as Open Society (2016), Le Soir (2015) and New York Times (2011)
He received a diploma in civil engineering from Damascus University (1992) and a DEA in History from the Sorbonne, Paris IV (1996). Born in 1967 in Damascus, he currently lives and works in Beirut
