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LOS ANGELES – ‘The Last Light’ is a haunting animated short film directed by Amjad Ihsan Albandak and written by Sarah Hussam Alnimri, inspired by the true story of Hind Rajab, a young girl whose final moments during the war in Gaza moved the world. The 3-minute film explores the fragile boundary between reality and imagination, as Hind’s voice and memories blend into a poetic dreamscape where fear, innocence, and hope intertwine.
Set in her last moments, the film transitions between the brutal silence of war and the delicate inner world of a child who clings to faint glimmers of safety. The visuals are rendered with cinematic realism, while the storytelling remains deeply symbolic — drawing on children’s toys, drawings, and shifting light as metaphors for lost innocence and enduring spirit. Real audio from the event is subtly woven into the soundtrack, grounding the film’s imagery in painful authenticity.
Director Amjad Ihsan Albandak, a Jordanian 3D and VFX artist, collaborated closely with his wife, Sarah Hussam Alnimri, who performed the facial motion capture and co-wrote the script. Together they transformed grief into a work of art, creating a deeply personal tribute to Hind and to all children affected by war.
“As parents, this story struck us on a deeply personal level,” Albandak says. “We wanted to capture not just the tragedy, but the fragile light that survives in darkness. This film is our promise that her story — and every child’s — will not be forgotten.”
Produced entirely in Jordan with zero budget, ‘The Last Light’ demonstrates the power of independent filmmaking and the possibilities of digital art as a tool for human storytelling. With its painterly atmosphere, immersive sound design, and emotional precision, the film resonates as both a memorial and a plea for empathy.
