After months of helplessly watching the relentless crisis in Gaza, Yousef, a retired Palestinian doctor, finds out he’s been approved to volunteer there as a medic.

Now he’s faced with telling his family this news.

Scheduled to film this Spring 2026, we are midway through the final steps to secure majority funding from a significant backer. We are now looking to raise a final small portion to top up the budget and allow us to see the project over the line. Please help us bring this story to life!

Director's statement:

The Oath is a deeply personal story based on my own father, a working Syrian-Lebanese surgeon in his late 60’s. I witnessed the devastation after October 7th like many others - through a screen. But my father’s intention to volunteer suddenly brought chaos to my doorstep. I felt a complex mix of emotions: fear and anger; I saw his choice as reckless, yet I was also filled with pride.

In this film, we follow one UK-based diasporic Palestinian family, but truthfully, there are countless families like this that are a product of displacement from conflict, from Iraq, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. What The Oath seeks to focus on is the complex and long lasting impact conflict has on those away from the fighting, offering a unique and nuanced commentary on regional issues, while expanding on the ever growing need for stories and characters from the SWANA region to be represented in a dignified manner.

Sandy Matta - Writer/Director

Sandy is a London-based Syrian-Lebanese director with extensive experience in the creative industries. Since moving to the UK in 2014, she has worked in design, advertising, and filmmaking. Through film, she aims to explore Middle Eastern stories and cultural identity in a nuanced and character-driven way.

She worked as a director for the production company, Nowadays, creating films for clients like the NSPCC and Impetus, earning multiple industry awards. Sandy is now a freelance commercial director and creative alongside developing her own narrative and documentary projects. She enjoys analogue filmmaking, photography, and digital collage art.

Charlotte Maxwell - Producer

Charlotte began her filmmaking career in the camera team, working on everything from short films and music videos to TV series and commercials.

While she relished the intense on-set environment, she increasingly craved a fuller picture of the production process. Charlotte therefore transitioned into producing, initially in educational content, before moving into commercial production in 2022. Her clients include The NSPCC, Google and Monzo. 

Awards for her commercials work include; EVCOM Clarions, Telly Awards and a Cannes Corporate Dolphin and final selection at the Young Arrows Awards.

Sarráa - Cinematographer

Sarráa is an Egyptian cinematographer and BAFTA Connect member with a love for the quiet poetry of light. Her work spans documentary and narrative, including the BAFTA Cymru–nominated Finding Hope (BBC iPlayer) and the 16mm short The Dandies of Albertopolis, which premiered at the UK Asian Film Festival 2023. She has recently shadowed DOPs Fabian Wagner and Emily Almond Barr, continuing to shape stories that feel tactile, luminous, and enduring.

Visual References

If you have any enquiries about funding this film, please do contact us by email at theoath.short@gmail.com