Filmed over ten years, ONE IN A MILLION follows Israa from childhood to adulthood on an extraordinary journey from Syria to Germany – and back again. We first meet her as she and her family prepare to cross the Aegean Sea, risking everything in search of safety and a better life in Europe. What unfolds is a deeply personal chronicle of war, exile and heartbreak, as Israa grows up navigating adolescence, identity and belonging far from the home she was forced to leave. As Israa settles into life in Germany, new freedoms colide with the stabilizing pul of Syrian traditions, testing bonds and reshaping her sense of self.

The film follows Israa and her loved ones across borders, cultures and shifting circumstances. An intimate coming-of-age story, ONE IN A MILLION illuminates the complexities of the refugee experience while asking a universal question: what does it mean to call a place home?

Itab Azzam, born in Syria, is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and humanitarian. She works with Syrian refugee women in Lebanon and London on empowerment, education, and through therapeutic arts projects, including “Film for Freedom”, an initiative that trains refugee women in filmmaking. Currently, she resides in London.

Jack MacInnes, born and raised in London, moved to Damascus/Syria where he met and ultimately married co-director Itab Azzam. His
work as a filmmaker has appeared on Netflix, BBC and PBS and received the Emmy, BAFTA, Peabody, Grierson, and Prix Italia Awards.

Filmography (together): 2026 ONE IN A MILLION

Awards (selection): Directing and Audience Award “World Cinema Documentary” (Sundance Film Festival, Park City/USA 2026), Grand Jury Prize Documentary Feature (Dallas International Film Festival, USA 2026)