Best Script at the Moondance International Festival

Feature | Bio-Drama

The dramatic true story of an Iraqi doctor who survived numerous attempts on her life, including a chemical weapon attack, to testify against Saddam Hussein and Chemical Ali.

Dr. Katrin defies stereotypes. She’s not only a Christian but counts Muslims and Jews among her closest friends. She holds a doctorate, speaks seven languages, and once served as a political liaison for the Peshmerga. Her life has been filled with action and drama. At 13, she was dragged from her Christian school in northern Iraq and imprisoned by the Baath Regime. A month later, she stood before an all-male court, defended herself in two of the three languages she already knew, and won her freedom.

Later, she earned a master’s and doctorate, focusing on women’s and human rights. Her activism made her a target, especially after her father’s murder. Forced to assume an alias, she went into hiding with the Peshmerga, becoming their political liaison and taking on dangerous missions. She barely survived a chemical attack in 1987, escaping the mustard gas by clawing her way up a mountain. Katrin then led a group of survivors across the border into Turkey, where they were imprisoned in a refugee camp. Knowing they would be handed over to Saddam Hussein if discovered, she smuggled out photos and reports of the chemical attacks.

Eventually, she made it to the United States, where she continued to advocate for human and women’s rights, bringing attention to Congress, the White House, and media outlets like 20/20 and 60 Minutes. Despite death threats, she returned to testify against Saddam Hussein and Chemical Ali in 2006. Today, she lives in Michigan.