usama alshaibi


BIO

Usama

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Usama Alshaibi was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1969 and spent his formative years living between the United States and the Middle East. He’s an active filmmaker and visual artist, with several short films, documentaries and feature films to his credit. His films have screened at underground and international film festivals, and have been broadcast on television stations across the globe.

In early 2004, nine months after the United States invaded Iraq, Usama and Kristie returned to his birthplace to shoot his first feature documentary titled Nice Bombs. The documentary had a theatrical release in Chicago and New York, and a broadcast premiere on the Sundance Channel.

Alshaibi’s controversial narrative feature, Profane, premiered at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, and has won several awards, including best feature film at the Boston Underground Film Festival and best film of the year by the Underground Film Journal in 2011.

Alshaibi’s films have received several grants, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation award, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, an award from the Creative Capital Foundation for the Arts, and two Playboy Foundation awards. He’s also the winner of the Creative Promise award at Tribeca All Access in New York City.

Usama lived in Chicago for over 17 years and worked as a digital archivist at the Chicago History Museum, and as a radio host and producer for Chicago Public Media. Currently Alshaibi is a visiting assistant professor at Colorado State University.

E-MAIL: usama.alshaibi@gmail.com