Birds of War – Films – Visions du Réel

Janay Boulos & Abd Alkader Habak
United Kingdom, Lebanon, Syria | 2026 | 85 min
Swiss Premiere
Languages : Arabic, English
Subtitles : English, French

Over thirteen years, Birds of War delves into the personal archives of a Lebanese journalist living in London and a Syrian cameraman to tell the story of the liberation of Aleppo and the uprising of the population in Beirut. Through their exchanges of texts and voice messages, the tale of war gradually makes way to one of romance.

Birds of War adopts an unexpected blend of genres. It follows the remote collaboration between Lebanese journalist Janay Boulos, working in London for the BBC, and Syrian activist photographer Abd Alkader Habak. Birds of War uses text and voice messages exchanged over several years with Habak’s English correspondent to document how he risks his life to report on the civil war against Bashar al-Assad. Over the years, Janay Boulos also witnesses Lebanon rising up against the corruption of those in power. The two young reporters each witness the country in which they grew up changing abruptly under the effects of war and, during visits to their families, they reflect on what it means to have a homeland. Yet, beneath the surface of this war film quietly emerge the beginnings of a deeply moving romantic comedy. Structured as a heartbreaking flashback, Birds of War explores the distance and reunions of these two lovebirds buoyed by their faith in journalism.

Raphaëlle Pireyre

Janay Boulos
Birds of War, 2026

Abd Alkader Habak
Birds of War, 2026