Doha Film Institute
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Thirty-five years after her separation from her parents, Hamda travels back in time to save their lives, only to uncover the hidden truth about their untimely departure.
A small house in the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Madinat Khalifa is home to a recently married couple and their 10-month-old baby. The picturesque serenity of the calm, quiet night is shattered by the loud bang of a gunshot. Thirty-five years later, Hamda, despite the dangers of time manipulation, decides to travel back in time to uncover the mystery of what happened to her parents that night. Set against the backdrop of the Gulf War, ‘If Only’ tells the parallel stories of what was, what is, and what could be at the intersection of timelines spawning from a single gunshot. As Hamda navigates these timelines, she discovers shocking truths and faces the profound impact of altering the past.

Credits

Director
Ali Al Anssari
Screenwriter
Maryam Al Sahli, Ali Al Anssari
Producer
Maryam Al Sahli

About the Director

Ali Al Anssari
Ali Al Anssari is a media graduate from Bangor University, North Wales. He began practising photography in 2008 and has transitioned to cinematography and directing. Al Anssari directed 'I' in 2012 and 'Qarar' in 2014—both have been invited to numerous film festivals and were featured at the Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner. As a director, he has worked with Doha Film Institute, Katara Stu
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