Ossama Bawardi

Ossama Bawardi is an independent producer working in Palestine and Jordan. Bawardi began his film career in various productions including Paradise Now by Hany Abu Assad, Whispering Embers by Ali Nassar and Salt of this Sea by Annemarie Jacir. Paradise Now was the first Palestinian film to be nominated for an Academy Award and Salt of this Seapremiered in Cannes and was the first feature directed by a Palestinian woman. Salt of this Sea not only brought Bawardi and Jacir together but notably also brought together Jacir and actor Saleh Bakri for the first time in Saleh Bakri's first film roles launching what would become a regular and anticipated collaboration. Bawardi produced Jacir's next feature film When I Saw You which won Best Asian Film at the Berlin International Film. The film's production was noted for being entirely Arab financed, becoming amongst the first in the region to rely almost entirely on local private financing. He produced Horizon, In Overtime, and Mare Nostrum. He also directed and produced the short film Haneen. He is the line producer of (No) Laughing Matter, A Stone's Throw from Prison as well as numerous other films both fiction and documentary. In 2010, he officially joined Philistine Films, the production company founded by Annemarie Jacir to support distinctive visions, build a local crew, and which has established itself at the forefront of independent cinema in the region. Bawardi expanded the company to offer production services and coproductions with international producers. Bawardi line produced Amin Matalqa's The Rendezvous starring Stana Katic, Mai Masri's 3,000 Nights and Barbara Eder's Thank you for Bombing. He produced Jacir's Wajib, winner of thirty-six international awards including Best Film in Mar Del Plata, Dubai, Amiens, Washington DC and Kerala. Bawardi is also an executive producer on The Mountain by Faysal Atrash, The Translator by Syrian filmmakers Rana Kazkaz and Anas Khalaf, and the highly anticipated Huda's Salon by Hany Abu Assad as well as Kazoz by Amira Diab and A Gaza Weekend by Basil Khalil. Most recently, he produced the Oscar nominated and BAFTA winner film The Present by Farah Nabulsi. Bawardi is a member of the EAVE Producer's Network and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy.