New film documents Syrian refugee’s 10-year journey from Turkiye to Germany

A new documentary One in a Million captures the decade-long journey of a young Syrian refugee exploring her family's struggle to rebuild their lives after fleeing war and adjusting to a different culture in Germany.

A new documentary One in a Million captures the decade-long journey of a young Syrian refugee exploring her family’s struggle to rebuild their lives after fleeing war and adjusting to a different culture in Germany.

The film follows Israa who was just 11 years old when British filmmakers Jack MacInnes and Itab Azzam first encountered her in 2015. At the time she was selling cigarettes alongside her father on a street corner in Turkiye after her family escaped the conflict in Aleppo, Syria.

Impressed by her lively personality the filmmakers decided to document her experiences as she and her family travelled across eight countries in search of a safer future.

Azzam recalled how closely the production team accompanied the family throughout their journey sharing difficult conditions including nights on the streets and freezing weather while travelling through Serbia and Croatia. The experience gradually created a strong bond between the filmmakers and the family.

That connection eventually developed into One in a Million an intimate documentary filmed over 10 years that traces Israa’s transformation from childhood to adulthood.

The film explores the family’s challenges as they cross borders and establish a new life in Germany. It also highlights the cultural tensions Israa experiences as she encounters greater personal freedoms while navigating traditional family expectations.

Audiences follow her journey through adolescence, marriage and motherhood as she attempts to establish her own identity amid changing family relationships.

The documentary also captures a significant return to her homeland. After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, a married Israa travels back to Syria with her husband.

MacInnes said the filmmakers wanted to offer audiences a deeper understanding of the refugee experience, arguing that migration is frequently discussed as a political issue rather than through the personal experiences of displaced people.

He hopes the documentary will allow viewers to understand the emotional and social complexities refugees face while rebuilding their lives in unfamiliar surroundings.

One in a Million is scheduled to open in cinemas across the United Kingdom on Friday. The documentary previously premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where it received the Audience Award.

MacInnes recalled the emotional response when Israa made a surprise appearance at the festival. He said it was particularly moving to see the girl they had first met selling cigarettes on a street corner receive widespread recognition and appreciation for her story.