London, England – The documentary *Birds of War* has garnered widespread acclaim following its recent release in British cinemas, drawing a positive response from both critics and audiences alike thanks to its poignant, human-centered portrayal of wartime experiences—conveyed through firsthand accounts and footage captured by the filmmakers themselves.
A human story from the heart of the war.
The film centers on the first meeting between Lebanese journalist Janay Boulos and Syrian photojournalist Abd Alkader Habak in 2016, when Boulos—then a BBC correspondent based in London—asked Habak to provide her with footage from the Battle of Aleppo during its final months.
The work explores the conflict in Syria and the 2019 protests in Lebanon through footage captured by Habaq and Boulos. It reveals the war’s devastating impact and the Syrian photographer’s journey of escape from his homeland, alongside the messages they exchanged to check on one another—offering a personal narrative that highlights the human dimension amidst the conflict.
Co-produced documentary film
Released in 2026, the film *Birds of War* was written and directed by Janay Boulos and Abdel Qader Habak, and produced by Sonia Henrici alongside Boulos, offering a documentary experience that blends journalism with human storytelling. The film achieved remarkable success on the festival circuit, winning the Special Jury Award for Journalistic Impact at the Sundance Film Festival in recognition of its approach to documenting events and conveying the suffering of civilians through both a journalistic and a human lens.
Triumph at the Sundance Film Festival
The filmmakers drew inspiration for the title “War Birds” from the nickname Janai Boulos and Abdul Qader Habak gave each other while covering the war in Syria—a title that reflects their friendship and shared journey in documenting one of the region’s most brutal periods.
