Experiencing Interruptions?

Ayny - My Second Eye

The mothers stood when the war hit the houses.
The children kept dreaming.
The houses grew back.
The war hit back.
The children kept playing.

  • Ahmad Saleh
    Director
  • Ahmad Saleh
    Writer
  • Stefan Gieren
    Producer
  • Jessica Neubauer
    Art Director
  • Saed Saleh & Saleh Saleh
    Production Desigers
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 4, 2016
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Palestine, State of
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • 43rd STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS 2016
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Student Oscar - Gold Medal in Foreign Animation Category
  • 13th DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Dubai
    United Arab Emirates
    December 7, 2016
    World Premier
  • 29th FESTIVAL PREMIERS PLANS D’ANGERS
    ANGERS
    France
    January 20, 2017
    Special Mention - Animation Compitition
  • 24th STUTTGART FESTIVAL OF ANIMATED FILM
    Stuttgart
    Germany
    May 2, 2017
    Special Mention
  • 63rd Oberhausen International Short Film Festival
    Oberhausen
    Germany
    May 11, 2017
  • 9th Beirut Cinema Days
    Beirut
    Lebanon
    March 18, 2017
  • 41st Hong Kong International Film Festival

    Hong Kong
    April 16, 2017
  • Lebanon International Film Festival
    Beirut
    Lebanon
    December 15, 2016
    Best Animation
  • 13th Akbank Short Film Festival
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    March 16, 2017
    Jury Special Mention
  • 17th FILUMS - INT'L FILM FESTIVAL

    Pakistan
    February 9, 2017
    Best Animation
  • Next Generation Short Tiger Award

    Germany
    May 21, 2017
    Winner
  • Palm Springs Int'l ShortFest
    Palm Springs
    United States
    June 20, 2017
  • Valletta Film Festival

    Malta
    June 19, 2017
    Best Short Film
  • Sudan Independent Film Festival

    Sudan
    March 17, 2017
  • ZUMEFF
    Abu Dhabi
    United Arab Emirates
    May 1, 2017
    Best of the Best Award
  • BETHERE! 2017 CORFU ANIMATION FESTIVAL
    Athens
    Greece
    March 29, 2017
    Special Mention
  • HEADWATERS FILM FEST

    United States
    3rd Place
  • QUMRAH INT'L FILM FESTIVAL

    Iraq
    April 13, 2017
    Best 3rd Movie
  • Amarji International Film Festival

    Iraq
    May 3, 2017
    Main Award
  • PICKURFLICK INDIE FILM FESTIVAL

    India
    May 19, 2017
    Best Director - Animation
  • Gent Film Fest
    Gent
    Belgium
    Best European Film
  • KLIK Amsterdam Animation Festival
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    Best Animated Short from an Emerging Animation Nation
  • Ajyal Youth Film Festival
    Doha
    Qatar
    December 3, 2017
Director Biography - Ahmad Saleh

While studying Electronics Engineering, Ahmad started his hobby in writing stories – not knowing back then, that telling stories will turn into his main profession.
After his Bachelor in Engineering, Ahmad made two Masters in Art. One in Digital Media at the University of Arts Bremen and the other in Film Writing and Directing at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne.

So far, he has written a novel, a collection of short stories and directed 3 short films. His first short HOUSE went out collecting several prestigious awards including the German Short Film Award. His second film AYNY won a golden Student Academy Award.
Currently Ahmad is working on his 4th short film NIGHT which recently won the Robert Bosch Film Prize at Berlinale. He is also writing his first feature film THE BIRD’S WINDOW.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

It took me 10 years until I could tell the closest people to me what happened in that day. And when I tried to write it in a story, it took me another 5 years until I knew how to tell it. It was a day that led me to witness a trauma hitting two young boys in a refugees camp. The more I replied the memory in my mind through the years, the more small details started to be evident. Details of strength from the two boys and all the people who helped in carrying the two boys to the hospital. And while I was trying to tell the story of the trauma, I found myself telling a story about people who can walk above traumas while moving through life.