Born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1955, he emigrated with his family in the 1960s to Switzerland where, following his studies at the Zurich University of the Arts, he trained as a typesetter. He has worked as a cinematographer, writer and director since the early 1980s. In 1994 he took over the Dschoint Ventschr production company with filmmaker Werner Schweizer and producer Karin Koch; the company focuses on the development of up-and-coming Swiss talent. His work encompasses over 40 short and feature films. He also regularly works as a theatre director and in the field of fine arts.

Source: 65. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)