In 2014 the two Kurdish students Jenkidar and Hussein starts a journey with an unexpected amount of life changing twists and turns. It takes them from a careless student life in Beirut to their beloved hometown of Kobani. Here they pick up video cameras for the first time in their lives and document the Kurdish resistance against ISIS.

One by one they introduce us to their family and friends, who one by one become victims in the almost impossible defence of the city. As the battle intensifies it is not possible for Jenkidar and Hussein to stay in Kobane. They have to flee in order to survive and end up as refugees in Barcelona and Paris.

As they come to terms with their new situation and the experiences from their journey, they realise that they are transformed for life. Despite being painful, they must tell the world about their family and friends, so they did not die in vain.

CINEMA PREMIERE ACROSS SWEDEN
On Friday, February 10, Touching Freedom is opening in Swedish cinemas. For latest details on screening places, times and tickets go to the web site of Doc Lounge.  

FESTIVAL SELECTIONS
March 2022: Tempo Documentary Festival, Selected for Tempo Documentary Award, Stockholm. 
October, 2023: New York Kurdish Film Festival, USA

KEY CREATIVE CREDITS
DIRECTOR: Manal Masri
PRODUCER: Ove Rishøj Jensen for Auto Images, Sweden
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Alexander Germundsson
RECORDINGS IN KOBANI: Hussein Abbas &  Jenkidar Shikhdmmar
EDITOR: Magnus Svensson 
COMPOSER: Magnus Jarlbo
SOUND DESIGN: Martin Hennel & Jatte Nilsson
RESEARCH: Sebastian Claesson
TECHNICAL COORDINATORS: Joakim Polling & Caroline Troedsson
COLOUR GRADING: Rune Felix Holm & Jakob Schaumburg
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Martin Hultman
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Magnus Gertten

An AUTO IMAGES production in co-production with
SVT & FILM I SKÅNE

with support from
SWEDISH FILM INSTITUTE

In collaboration with:
NRK