Private Project

The Circle of War

A man crosses a desert, fleeing the chaos of war. He seeks peace, a refuge. But upon arrival, he discovers another war — quieter, more insidious. What he thought was an end is only a loop. Exile becomes a spiral. The dream, a mirage. He left one war only to find another. The Circle of War tells this vertigo — that of those who flee, move forward, hope… and realize the conflict precedes, follows, and surrounds them.

  • Mohamed Ait Hamou
    Director
  • Mohamed Ait Hamou
    Writer
  • Mohamed Ait Hamou
    Producer
  • Mohamed Ait Hamou
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drame Ironie tragique
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 20, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    Algeria
  • Country of Filming:
    Algeria
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16/9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Hanyang International Shorts Awards
    Seoul
    September 1, 2025
    Semi-Finalist
  • 12. Egeart Kısa Film Yarışması
    12. Egeart Kısa Film Yarışması Ege Üniversitesi Atatürk Kültür Merkezi Izmir, Izmir 35290
    Turquie
    October 25, 2025
    Official Selection
  • 12. Egeart Kısa Film Yarışması
    12. Egeart Kısa Film Yarışması Ege Üniversitesi Atatürk Kültür Merkezi Izmir, Izmir 35290
    Turquie
    October 25, 2025
    world premiere
    Award Winner
Director Biography - Mohamed Ait Hamou


Mohamed Ait Hamou is a multidisciplinary artist: an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, cultural journalist, puppeteer, and stop-motion animator. His work explores urgent social issues while celebrating the richness of Kabyle Amazigh culture.
Through short films, documentaries, animations, and articles, he addresses universal themes such as social injustice, inequality, and human resilience. Recognized internationally for his boldness and authenticity, he is currently developing ambitious projects blending fiction, documentary, and cultural journalism.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film is a silent exploration of the absurdity of exile. It is not a documentary or a manifesto, but an inner journey seen through the eyes of a solitary man.
Far from pathos and didacticism, it shows flight as an endless cycle, where the hope for peace always clashes with a new form of violence less visible but just as devastating.
The film relies on landscape, silence, and rhythm to express this vertigo. War is everywhere, even when it’s silent, and the so-called “host land” can often be a trap.
My intention is to film fatigue, waiting, and the silent dignity of those who keep moving forward despite everything. To remind that behind every migrant, there is a war, and behind every war, a repetition.