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I’d Give the Whole World to Be Back Where I Used to Be...

A black-and-white musical portrait of Houston, Texas.

  • Cooper Sukaly
    Director
  • Cooper Sukaly
    Cinematographer
  • Cooper Sukaly
    Editor
  • Cooper Sukaly
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Other
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 31 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 22, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Houston Cinema Arts Festival
    Houston
    United States
    November 8, 2025
    Houston Stories: HERE
  • SUITS: The Clothes Make the Man - 25th Anniversary Show @ River Oaks Theatre
    Houston
    United States
    January 6, 2026
  • Austin International Film Festival
    Austin, Texas
    United States
    April 18, 2026
    Winner - Best Editing
Director Biography - Cooper Sukaly

Cooper Sukaly is a filmmaker based in Houston, Texas. He made his directorial debut with the short film I'd Give the Whole World to Be Back Where I Used to Be... (2025).

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Director Statement

I'd Give the Whole World to Be Back Where I Used to Be... is the first film I have directed.

It began by accident, when I was experimenting with desaturated phone footage. The images surprised me, and I started to see Houston in a way I had never quite seen it portrayed before. Six months of hard work and learning followed, and this film is the result. I am proud of it.

People familiar with Houston may appreciate their city presented in a different light, but I hope the film’s search for beauty and nostalgia in an ever-changing world connects more widely. At times earnest and at times ironic, it reflects both the city and myself.

Making this film was a labor of love. For better or worse, it is my way of saying I am alive.

Long live Houston. Long live film.