Abdullah Al-Wazzan

Abdullah Al-Wazzan (Arabic: عبدالله الوزان) is a Kuwaiti filmmaker, entrepreneur and Architect. He was born in Kuwait City, Kuwait in 1990.

Early life and background Al-Wazzan was born and raised within the Al-Wazzan family, a prominent merchant family in Kuwait. his origins trace back to the Najd region of the Arabian peninsula. Al-Wazzan developed a keen interest in movies and filmmaking at a very young age. In his early preteens (ages 8–12) he created many unreleased short videos, usually directing his friends and classmates.

Film career In 2010 Al-Wazzan created the short animated sci-fi film "Down from Above", It was his first film to play in theaters. Al-Wazzan went on to create the animated short film Falafel Cart (2019) which was officially submitted to the 92nd Academy Awards in the animated short film category making it the first short film from Kuwait to ever be submitted to the Academy Awards.

In 2020, Falafel Cart by Abdullah Al-Wazzan became Kuwait's first film to be officially selected at the prestigious Hiroshima International Animation Festival in Japan where it received a "Best of the World" honorable mention. Al-Wazzan won best international short film at the 2019 Los Angeles Animation Festival and In 2021 he won best animated short film at the Burbank International Film Festival in California, United States.

Al-Wazzan received nominations for his film Falafel Cart at D.C. Independent Film Festival in Washington, D.C., Palm Springs International Animation Festival in California, Southampton International Film Festival in the United Kingdom, Paris International Animation Film Festival in France, and Ajyal Film Festival in Doha And was officially selected at Athens Animfest in Greece, Sonoma International Film Festival in California, Rabat International Author Film Festival in Morocco and Montreal International Animation Film Festival in Canada. The film also screened theatrically in Los Angeles, Sweden and Kuwait.

In May 2017 During the Cannes Film Festival, the Doha Film Institute announced that Abdullah Al-Wazzan's drama, thriller script "Soaring over Mayhem" was selected to receive its annual film grant.

In 2014 Al-Wazzan participated officially at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and at the Dubai International Film Festival.

In 2021 ShortsTV obtained non exclusive distribution rights to Al-Wazzan's film Falafel Cart for release on its live channels and streaming platforms. Best International Short Film United States 2020 Falafel Cart Hiroshima International Animation Festival Best Animated Short Film United States 2019 Falafel Cart Palm Springs International Animation Festival Hilal Short Film Competition Qatar 2021 Falafel Cart Paris International Animation Film Festival Horizons Competition France