The Syrian Civil War, which started back in 2011, created one of the world’s largest displacement crises that led to more than 6 million Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries and across the sea to Greece.

Humanitarian Brandt Andersen wanted to showcase this plight in a multi-perspective feature film, I Was a Stranger, from the eyes of a doctor, a soldier, a smuggler, and a ship captain.

The film stars Omar Sy (Lupin), Yasmine Al Massri, and Yahya Mahayni. It was inspired by the 2020 Oscar-shortlisted short film Refugee.

Here is the official synopsis:

I Was a Stranger unfolds against the backdrop of the Syrian Civil War, and follows a doctor, a soldier, a smuggler, a father, and a captain, each one on their own journey. A doctor’s tragedy sparks a chain of events, and all of their paths cross in a desperate pursuit of safety and belonging. Set across four countries and inspired by real stories from the frontlines of the refugee crisis, this sweeping drama captures the heartbreak, danger, and fragile beauty of those who dare to start over when the world gives them nothing.

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LRM Online’s Gig Patta chatted with writer-director Brandt Andersen on his feature film directorial debut. The discussion included the short-film adaptation, the cast of experienced and local actors, recreating war scenes, and filming the stormwater oceans at night.

Brandt Anderson made his live-action feature short Refugee in 2020, and was short-listed for the Academy Award. He produced films, including Everest with Jake Gyllenhaal, Lone Survivor with Mark Wahlberg, Silence with Adam Driver, and American Made with Tom Cruise. His humanitarian work assisted refugees since 2019 in North East Syria with CanDo Organization to teaching filmmaking to Syrian Refugee teenagers in association with CARE in 2017. Also, he traveled to refugee camps in Greece and Italy with the United Nations.

I Was a Stranger is in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 8, 2026.

Watch the exclusive interview with Brandt Andersen below. Let us know what you think of the interview.

For news and interviews, contact Gig Patta at [email protected]. Follow https://x.com/GigPatta, https://www.facebook.com/OfficialGigPatta, https://www.instagram.com/gigpatta, or https://www.tiktok.com/gigpatta for all his postings and musings in entertainment.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive, Angel Studios