Road to Al-Qa'im

Set in 2017 Iraq during the early years of Operation Inherent Resolve, a Naval Special Warfare (NSW) SEAL element deploys on a sniper post deep in the Iraqi desert. Their mission: calling in strikes on dynamic targets ahead of the Iraqi Army offensive against ISIS. Their mission is interrupted when Marwan, a displaced Iraqi refugee, stumbles across their position, reeling from injuries sustained during a previous attack. As they debrief Marwan, they are confronted with the unintended consequences of war, the compromise of their own humanity, and the realities of completing their mission.

SHORT | 24:00

Director Biography - Christopher Santiago

Santiago began at New York University, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Producing. Following undergraduate studies at NYU, he left the entertainment world to pursue a career in public service, at first commissioning as an officer in the U.S. Navy, and later transitioning to the Air National Guard as a reservist. After his active-duty service, Santiago began a career in law enforcement, working at first as a Police Officer and later as a Detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. He has since ventured back into the world of film, drawing on his experience and a lifelong passion for cinema.