A hand-drawn film about a girl, her dog, and what survives a ruined city.
The film
Children of Barzagh is an internationally award-winning animated short film written, produced and directed by Ahmed Khattab, brought to the screen frame by frame with animation by WKA Studio.
The story follows a girl and her dog navigating the wreckage of their city, told without dialogue: ink, charcoal texture and light carry the narrative instead.
The approach
From concept development to creative direction and final execution, every element was crafted to reflect a distinctive visual style that merges handcrafted animation with cinematic storytelling.
The film draws viewers into a stylised world shaped by movement, sound and atmosphere, an experience that is both immersive and emotionally resonant.
"Children of Barzagh is a poignant film that shows just how deeply animated movies can enlighten, move, and heal us." (Shery Adel, Egyptian actress)
Recognition
Children of Barzagh premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival, where it received the Special Mention Award, and went on to win First Prize for Fictional Film at the Central Illinois Film Festival in the United States.
Its festival circuit continued well beyond that, with official selections across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Selected festivals:
At MassHouse Studio, we see animation not as a technique but as a language, one that lets Children of Barzagh’s story of loss and companionship travel far beyond where it was made.