usama alshaibi

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BIO

usama alshaibiUsama Alshaibi was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1969 and spent his formative years living between the United States and the Middle East. His work in film and video has been screened at numerous film festivals and venues across the globe. He is the recipient of a generous 2005 grant from the Creative Capital Foundation for the Arts and a Playboy Foundation Award, as well as the winner of the Creative Promise Award at Tribeca All Access in New York City. In early 2004 Usama and his wife returned to his birthplace in Iraq to shoot his first feature documentary titled Nice Bombs, it was produced by Benzfilm Group and Kristie Alshaibi. Nice Bombs is being distributed by Seventh Art Releasing and several of Alshaibi’s short films are included on International DVD compilations. He has completed one narrative feature titled Muhammad and Jane, and more than thirty short films and videos. He has also produced and directed music videos for a variety of recording artists, including Bobby Conn, Magic is Küntmaster and Panicsville. Usama was the founder and Director of the notorious Z Film Festival from 2000-2005. Alshaibi taught documentary film classes at Columbia College, and he has lectured as an artist in residence at schools and universities throughout the U.S. Currently he is an on-air host and producer for Chicago Public Radio’s Vocalo.org. Usama is co-owner of Artvamp, a multi-media production company founded by his wife Kristie Alshaibi. In addition to reaching an eclectic audience with his film work, Alshaibi’s photography has been included in several print and web publications, including Nerve.com. An interview with Usama appears in Studs Terkel’s book Hope Dies Last. Feature articles have been written about his work in such places as the Chicago Tribune, Time Out, and Variety, and he has made appearances on various television and radio news programs. Usama is also a life long painter and illustrator working in watercolors and inks.
CURRENT PROJECT: Baghdad, Iowa

E-MAIL: usama@artvamp.com

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