The Lions by the River Tigris

A story of hope in a city ruined by a war

Doxy

The beautiful ancient Iraqi city of Mosul, was conquered by ISIS, and became one of the most hated places in the world. In the war for liberation, the Old City was left in ruins. Can the people of Mosul rise again, and heal their broken souls?

Cast

Bashar and his family
Fakhri and Fadel

Credits

written & directed by • Zaradasht Ahmed
editor • Eva Hillström
sound design • Luuk Hoogstraten & Zita Leemans
music • Daan Hofman
colorist • Peter Bernaers
finishing • FeverFilm
poster- and title design • Susanne Keilhack
producer • Indie Film Bergen - Thorvald Nilsen
co producer • DOXY
broadcaster Netherlands • NTR
distributor Netherlands • Amstelfilm
financiers • The Norwegian Film Institute, Netherlands Film Fund, Vestnorsk Filmsenter, Filmkraft Rogaland, Mediefondet Zefyr, Fond for Lyd og Bilde, Fritt Ord, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, NTR, Movies on War

Festivals

CPH:DOX 2025 • Human Rights Competition
Architecture Film Festival of Rotterdam 2025 • Selection
Doha Film Festival • Selection
DOC NYC • Selection
DOK Leipzig • Audience Competition

Prijzen

Arab Cinema Center in Cannes • The Critics Awards for Arab Films Best Documentary
Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival • Special Mention
Union of the Ukrainian Film • Critics Prize Oko Global Non-fiction Competition
Duhok International Film Festival • Golden Leaf for Best World Documentary Film
Carthage Film Festival • Lina Ben Mhenni Human Rights Prize & Silver Tanit in Official Feature-Length Documentary Film Competition
Nordic Docs Film Festival • Honorary Mention

Stills