-about
Usama 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. In early 2004 Usama and his wife returned to his birthplace in Iraq to shoot his first feature documentary titled Nice Bombs. The documentary had a theatrical release in 2007 and a broadcast premiere on the Sundance Channel on March 19, 2008.
Usama has completed one narrative feature titled Muhammad and Jane, and more than thirty short films and videos that are on various International DVD compilations. He has also produced and directed music videos for a variety of recording artists, including Bobby Conn, Magic is Küntmaster, Panicsville and Mahjongg. Usama was the founder and Director of the notorious Chicago based Z Film Festival from 2000 to 2005.
In addition to reaching an eclectic audience with his film work, Alshaibi's photography and art have been included in various gallery exhibitions and web publications. An interview with Usama appears in Studs Terkel's book Hope Dies Last and his films have been included in Jack Sargeant's book Deathtripping The Extreme Underground. 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.
Alshaibi 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. Currently he is an on-air host and producer for Chicago Public Radio's Vocalo.org and is co-owner of Artvamp, a multi-media production company founded by his wife Kristie Alshaibi.
-MORE INFO:
-Curriculum Vitae
-Movie review: 'Nice Bombs' by Michael Phillips (2007)
-"Bringing the War Home"Time Out Chicago (2006)
-"Back to Baghdad,"Chicago Tribune (2004)
-Interview with Albert Hofer (2004)
-Interview with Studs Terkel (2003)
-LINKS:
-Usama on YouTube
-Usama's blog
-Baghdad, Iowa
-Nice Bombs Blog
-Usama on IMBd
-PDF:
-Time Out Chicago PDF (August 10-16, 2006)
-Creative Capital Artist Profile PDF (2006)
-MISC. PRESS:
-"Nice Bombs" Film review by Laura Fokkena (March 2008)
-"Nice Bombs" Variety (July 10, 2007)
-"Standing in Between," PopMatters (July 2007)
-Interview with Ignatius Vishnevetsky (July 2007)
-Interview with Ray Pride (July 2007)
-Critics Choice, Jonathan Rosenbaum (August 2006)
-On Film, Chicago Reader (2000)