Experiencing Interruptions?

La Tansouna (Don't Forget Us)

Nour, a newly-arrived refugee seeks asylum in Australia, escaping persecution to live his life freely on safer lands.

  • Sarah Ghassali
    Director
  • Sarah Ghassali
    Writer
  • Gaia Mitting
    Writer
  • Natasha Koutoufides
    Producer
  • Mark Anton
    Key Cast
    "Nour"
  • Madeline Royce
    Editor
  • Gaia Mitting
    Sound
  • Michaela Frantz
    Cinematographer
  • Sarah Ghassali
    Soundtrack
  • Gaia Mitting
    Soundtrack
  • Thomas Velican
    Soundtrack
  • Lucinda Issell
    1st AC
  • Madeline Royce
    1st AD
  • Emma Kerr
    Production Design
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    لا تنسونا
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Social Commentary, Human Rights, Refugee
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 18, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Shooting Format:
    Super 16mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Swinburne University of Technology
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Multicultural Film Festival

    Australia
    Honourable Mention for Best Emerging Filmmaker
  • Lift Off Online Sessions

    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

    Australia
    Official Selection
  • Toronto International Women in Film Festival

    Canada
    Best Human Rights Film Nomination
  • Women X Film Festival

    United Kingdom
    Best Student Film Nomination
  • Australian Independent Film Festival

    Australia
    Best Student Film and Aussie Short Nomination
  • ReelOzInd! Film Festival

    Indonesia
    Peoples' Choice Award and Best Fiction and Best Film Nomination
  • UWpg Film Festival
  • Queer Solidarity Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
    December 11, 2021
  • Melbourne Women in Film Festival
    Melbourne
    Australia
Director Biography - Sarah Ghassali

Sarah Ghassali is a 19-year-old Syrian-Australian filmmaker. As a person with lived experience, she wants to tell Nour's story with integrity, authenticity and justice. Her film is inspired by the bravery of her family, and the many men, women, and children, who seek asylum, every day.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

La Tansouna, although a fictional narrative, brings to the screen the real journey that millions of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers undergo to exercise their human right to seek asylum.

Our Swinburne University 16mm film, led by a passionate team of emerging women and non-binary filmmakers of all walks of life, is a social comment on our expectations of community assimilation and the harsh realities behind systematic immigration.

As myself and Mark Anton are Syrian migrants, we collaborated on the script to create an authentic, un-dramatised reflection through Nour, and all those who came - and come - before him.