Avin

Avin is a story of courage and hope in a world shaped by war and loss. When young Avin flees the city of Kobani in Syria amid the advance of ISIS, she crosses the border into Turkey with one goal: to find her grandmother and reclaim the safety she has lost. Without knowing the language or the territory, her journey becomes an intense struggle against the invisible wounds and memories left by war. Along the way, Avin meets Fatma, a young girl from the village of Dhara, who guides her through dangers and friendship in a landscape where humanity shines brighter than the darkness they flee.

Authentically filmed in Nusaybin near the Syrian border, "Avin" explores profound themes of trauma, strength, and solidarity, shedding light on the reality faced by children impacted by war. A tribute to strong, determined women, the film challenges stereotypical images and narrates the resilience of hope amidst even the harshest trials.

Avin is my first short film, which I both wrote and directed. The short film won the award for Best Cinematography at Kultgalan 2015 and was selected by the Göteborg Film Festival, one of the largest film festivals in the Nordics, as one of the best Swedish short films of 2015.

About the Film

Production Company: Judi Mountain Films

Production Year: 2015

Executive Producer: Amil Haji Younes

Directed by: Mohammed Haji Younes

Cinematography: Björn Petersson

Film Editing: Maria Söderholm, Mohammed Haji Younes

Screenplay: Mohammed Haji Younes, Björn Petersson, Sandra Andersson

Original Soundtrack: Hampus Kung

Avin

Avin is a story of courage and hope in a world marked by war. When young Avin flees Kobani, Syria, during the rise of ISIS, she crosses into Turkey to find her grandmother and reclaim a sense of safety.

Alone in an unfamiliar land, she struggles with the invisible wounds of war. Along the way, she meets Fatma, a village girl who helps her navigate both danger and friendship—revealing the strength of human connection in the darkest of times.

Filmed in Nusaybin near the Syrian border, Avin explores trauma, resilience, and solidarity. It’s a tribute to strong women and a challenge to stereotypes—showing that hope can survive even the harshest trials.

This is my first short film, which I wrote and directed. It won Best Cinematography at Kultgalan 2015 and was selected by the Göteborg Film Festival as one of the best Swedish short films of the year.