I’m Ala’a Mohsen — a filmmaker, storyteller, and father. Born in Iraq, raised in Denmark, I live between cultures — and so do my stories. My work explores identity, memory, and what it means to belong.
A documentary film
BORN TO FIGHT IS THE STORY OF NAWRES AL KHALSI — A FIGHTER IN AND OUT OF THE RING.
PREMIERE STATUS:
September 2025: Salaam film festival
Trailer
Ala’A Mohsen came to Denmark in 2001 as an Iraqi refugee with his family. Growing up with one foot in Iraqi culture and the other in Danish society, his dual identity deeply informs his storytelling. He graduated as a documentary director from the National Film School of Denmark in 2015. In 2022, he was selected for Berlinale Talents and awarded a working grant by the Danish Arts Foundation. Ala’A is currently developing both fiction and documentary projects, continuing to explore themes of identity, conflict, and belonging.
He is currently working with Zentropa Documentary and Toolbox Film.
Short CV
• Free My Hands (2015)
Graduation film from the National Film School of Denmark
Nominated for the Robert Award (2016)
Official Selection – Dubai International Film Festival
• A New Beginning (2020)
World premiere at CPH:DOX
Screened at several international festivals
Broadcast on Danish DR and Norwegian NRK
• Current Projects
Souad – Fiction feature film, currently in development
Born to Fight – Feature documentary, currently in development
Talent Labs
• IDFA Academy (2017)
• Berlinale Talents (2022)
• Doc Forward (2025)
Pitched at
• Nordic Panorama (2017) – A New Beginning
• Nordic Panorama (2023) – Born to Fight
• Medimed (2023) – Born to Fight
• DocsBarcelona (2024) – Born to Fight
A NEW BEGINNING
A GOOD LIFE
WORK
CHILD OF IRAQ
FREE MY HANDS
YALLA! VOTE.
GHOST
Contact me
am@alaamohsen.com
+45 20565055
Copenhagen, Denmark