The Swedish film Exodus directed by Hassan is currently filming in Greece, with Clash of the Titans’ Ashraf Barhom in one of the title roles.

Hassan has produced several films including the successful 2017 feature A Hustle’s Diary (Måste Gitt), and its TV drama version which he co-directed for SVT. After several short films that attracted festival attention, such as Gold (2017), voted Best Live Action-Short Film at TIFF Kids, he is making his debut with Exodus, written by Kristoffer Cras.

Inspired by his own experience as a refugee who left war-torn Beirut for Sweden as a child, Hassan has written a warm-hearted story of survival and friendship. Amal (12) is on the run from Syria. In a Turkish harbour, she meets refugee smuggler Sam. Amal wants to travel to Greece where her sisters are in a refugee camp, to then join her parents with them, in Sweden. Amal, an imaginative, humorous but traumatised young girl and the older and refined Sam, travel together through Europe to try to find freedom. They develop a father-daughter relationship, which is both their survival and awakening.

In the title roles are Israeli Ashraf Barhom (Tyrants, The Idol, Clash of the Titans) and the young Jwan Algatami. "Exodus is based on true stories from all the millions of people who have been through war and flight, including my own family,” said Hassan. “The film's approach to the subject is unique. I will tell this story with imagination, humour, warmth and hopefulness, which was what made me survive when, as a 6-year-old, I had to flee Lebanon alone with the help of human traffickers.”

“Exodus is a strong and unique story about the ability to survive despite inhuman circumstances,” noted Mattias Nohrborg, who serves as producer, together with Anna-Clara Carlsten and Olle Wirenhed. “The film will both entertain and give power to all the refugees who suffer in the world, as the film's main characters Amal and Sam give us evidence of how to survive through humour and imagination. After many years of hard work, we are finally making the film”, he said.

Exodus is produced by B-Reel Films, one of Sweden’s leading production companies behind Midsummer, Euphoria, I am Greta, and the TV series Before We Die among others.

The film is co-produced by Film i Väst, SVT, with support among others from Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Triart will handle the domestic release in March 2022.