I Don’t Know
I Don’t Know – Short Film (2019) “I Don’t Know” is our new short film which was released in 2019 theatrically. It was shot in April 2019 and directed by Firas Sameer. The film addresses how a childhood upbringing environment impacts a human being positively or negatively, accompanied by deep surreal details. Read more in the director’s statement below. Festivals & Awards I Don’t Know Official Poster I Don’t Know Official Trailer I Don’t Know Short Film Details Tagline: When you don’t know that you don’t know. Film Genre: Drama, Horror Release Date: 2019 Starring: Regan Tetlow, Denis Pereverzev, and Ethan Tannous Script: Moh Sattam Hasan DOP: Krishnan VS Makeup: Gita Photographer: Omar Ghazwan Sound: Abdul Aziz Location Manager: Yousef Abu Laban Editing & VFX: Firas Sameer Directed by: Firas Sameer I Don’t Know – Behind the Scenes Director’s Statement Story and the Theme The story of the “I Don’t Know” short film revolves around a poor laborer who has lived his entire life in poverty and misery, rebelling and seeking revenge against his past to determine his unknown destiny against his antagonist—the manager of the factory where he works. Throughout the film, we witness how the protagonist accesses an area he never dreamed of entering: the factory manager’s office. Along his path, he discovers symbolic truths about life and death, destinies, wealth, and poverty. Combining elements of Drama, Action, Mystery, and Sci-Fi over an 11-minute runtime, the film unfolds as an adventurous revenge mission. The core concept is to surrealistically depict a life perspective through the eyes of someone in poverty, reflecting how human history is often driven by circumstances beyond individual control rather than personal choice. Director’s Vision As a director, I believe constructing a unique storytelling approach is crucial—especially after working closely with the scriptwriter and developing the narrative elements. Human history is filled with tragic accounts of poverty, daily hardship, and suffering; while I don’t intend to be overly pessimistic, this represents a tangible aspect of our shared reality. I structured the film by manipulating time and setting (balancing past and present), while dividing the environments into two distinct worlds: one representing poverty and the other depicting wealth. Color palettes were chosen to evoke specific emotional responses for each realm, while key visual symbols invite audience reflection and discussion. The musical score is crafted to help viewers not only see the story through the laborer’s perspective, but genuinely feel it. To convey the protagonist’s internal struggle, sadness, uncertainty, and hesitation, I utilized extreme close-up shots of the actor’s face as he contemplates entering the factory manager’s office. Backward camera movements emphasize his profound isolation, while the climax highlights a decisive shift in his fate. Simple black-and-white visual transitions further anchor his connection to a different temporal realm. Conversely, the rich man’s world presents a sharp contrast in every visual aspect. Altering the orientation of the Statue of Liberty figure with blood introduces subtle themes of freedom versus servitude. Through this film, I aimed to foster empathy and self-reflection, encouraging audiences to appreciate what they have and motivate one another to extend help to those in need, regardless of scale. Director / Firas Sameer
