One in a Million Trailer: Sundance Champion Depicts a Ten-Year Journey

      A winner of both the Audience Award and the Directing Award in the World Cinema Documentary category at the Sundance Film Festival, Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes’ *One in a Million* portrays a family's decade-long journey from Syria to Germany and back. Scheduled for release starting October 21, the first trailer has been unveiled by Frontline.

      The synopsis reads: “Shot over ten years, *ONE IN A MILLION* chronicles Israa’s life from childhood to adulthood as she undertakes an extraordinary journey from Syria to Germany—and back. We initially meet her at the age of 11, as she and her family prepare to cross the Aegean Sea, risking everything for safety and a better life in Europe. The film tells a deeply personal story of war, exile, and heartbreak, following Israa as she navigates adolescence, identity, and belonging far from the home she was compelled to leave. As Israa adapts to life in Germany, she faces a clash between newfound freedoms and the stabilizing influence of Syrian traditions, challenging familial bonds and reshaping her identity.”

      In my Sundance review, I mentioned, “We first encounter Israa at 11 years old, around 2015, as we observe her family's harrowing sea journey from Syria to Greece, then across several countries to the safe haven of Germany. Before their departure, children express their lack of fear in the face of death, highlighted by unforgettable images of little ones donning orange life vests. However, during the crossing, two children succumb to the cold, leaving Israa traumatized and shaking her usually cheerful demeanor. Upon reaching Germany less than a third of the way through the film, the story shifts from physical distance to emotional challenges, as the next decade of assimilation profoundly impacts their family dynamic. *One in a Million* introduces fresh perspectives: we begin to hear more from Israa’s father Tarek and, later, her mother Nisreen, as they grapple with the tension between Syrian traditions and modern culture, growing up, and romantic relationships.”

      Watch below.