Waad al-Kateab

Waad al-Kateab is a Syrian filmmaker, journalist, activist and co-founder of Action For Sama, an advocacy campaign working to protect civilians and healthcare workers in conflict zones and demand accountability for war crimes. She uses storytelling as a tool for impact through films such as For Sama, nominated for an Academy Award and winner of a BAFTA, We Dare to Dream, Death Without Mercy and Maybe Tomorrow, co-directed with Wafa Mustafa and premiering at Sheffield DocFest in 2026. Alongside her filmmaking, Waad is an internationally recognised voice on war, displacement and human rights. She was included in Time’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2020, received the Academy Gold Fellowship for Women in 2021 and, in 2025, joined the inaugural Selection Committee of the Displacement Film Fund.