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لين عيسى 🪬 Leen Issa

@_leen.issa

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فلسطينية-سورية مغتربة🌍
Filmmaker, editor & creative explorer

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VIFF 2026: collecting international cinema, festival credentials, and the illusion that this is a normal way to spend a week. Thank you @viffest for having me and screening a film that I had the privilege of working on! 🎥 ✨

Huge shoutout to @aniasfura and @ramibrahim99 and their team for their hardwork in creating @instituteforthemovingimage, a wonderful institution for filmmakers to create, collaborate, develop and learn! And thank you for the opportunity to talk about documentary filmmaking, particularly about finding meaning in certainty when the answer is unknown (especially as two documentaries of mine are in production).

And thank you to all my friends and family for such an amazing week filled with memories, movies, late nights, studio tours and that Hollywood gossip.

#VIFF2026 #FilmFestival #FilmFestivalLife #ArabsBreakHollywood #BehindTheScenes

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It’s been so inspiring to learn from these lovely humans and their artistic practice! Thanks for sharing yourselves with me!

@viffest @instituteforthemovingimage

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Had a great time working as a contributor, supporting a significant documentary project ‘We Teach Life’ by the gifted filmmaker @_leen.issa . It was part of the first documentary cohort at the @instituteforthemovingimage .

Today, Leen delivered a strong pitch before industry professionals during the pitch session. I wish the project great success.

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Nowhere feels like home - Syria 2026

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Good things can replace dysfunction.. Pride 2026 🏳️‍🌈❤️🥲

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Audience Choice Award for “Nader’s Girl” !

While filming “Nader’s Girl” I don’t think I fully understood just how much this film would resonate with so many people and with each screening I am continuously reminded of its impact.

Thank you to the audience at @torontoarabfilm for choosing our film!
And congratulations to the team who made it!! Woo!! 🙌

#audiencechoiceaward #shortfilm #nadersgirl

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this award is a special one because it was voted by you! so happy the film resonated with so many of you 🫶🏼 thank you for the Audience Choice Award and congrats to our entire team who made this film a reality!

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Words can’t express how grateful I am. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Much love! ❤️

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Give a warm welcome to the inaugural 2026 Documentary Cohort from the Institute for the Moving Image.

Designed for nonfiction filmmakers pushing the boundaries of documentary storytelling, the Documentary Cohort brings together 15 artists for three months of mentorship, collaboration, and creative exchange.

This year’s cohort includes five Creators, developing original documentary projects throughout the program, and ten Contributors, who will collaborate across those projects, sharing their ideas, perspectives, and expertise.

We look forward to following your creative journeys and seeing your projects, and your growth as filmmakers, take shape over the coming months.

Congratulations to the cohort!

Creators
Anandi Brownstein, OWL ATLAS
Jay Cardinal Villeneuve, KAYÂS NÔHCIMIHK (A LONG TIME AGO IN THE BUSH)
Jon Ornoy, FAINT LIGHT
Leen Issa, THE FLOOD: WAVES OF RESISTANCE
Martin Osowski, MOVING TREES

Contributors
Darragh Amelia
Deena Charara
Erin Morgan
Gabriel Colome
Gursimran Datla
Julie Kim
Marlene Castaños Ortega
Nancy Pettinicchio
Natasha Nair
Paisley Smith

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My mama dressed me well 😏

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THANK YOU for coming out on Tuesday to disturb the B.O.G. meeting and demanding we cut ties with apartheid!!!
🪧🇵🇸🍊🕊️📢

It was amazing to see everyone’s support and together, we made ourselves heard (check out the article written by @ubyssey.ca ). Thanks to our amazing photographers @dcbreathes and @_leen.issa for coming out to support and document the morning!!

From the river to the sea!

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Clips from the presentation at our March 26 teach-in on the campaign to pressure Scotiabank to divest from Elbit and the final victory. Vancouver activists started their street and flash actions in June/July of 2023. More info here: https://cpavancouver.org/2025/05/scotiabank-reinvests-genocide/
(Video courtesy Leen Issa)

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