In front of the camera: Syrian-Kurdish filmmaker Memo Issa in focus
In front of the camera: Syrian-Kurdish filmmaker Memo Issa in focus
How does a story of displacement become a film? In this video portrait, Memo Issa shares his journey of fleeing to Austria – and how he now uses his camera to make others visible.
At just 17 years old, Memo Issa had landed his dream job in the film industry. But then the war in Syria shattered every prospect. He had to flee his home – first to Lebanon, then through Türkiye to Europe – including a harrowing 28-hour journey in a dark refrigerated truck, with only one bottle of water and a crying baby beside him.
A new life in Austria
Memo has lived in Austria since June 2015. He spent his first weeks in a small village in Lower Austria, where he was warmly welcomed and began learning German immediately – through language courses, YouTube, the radio, and every chance he had to get in touch with the language.
From internship to an independent media agency
After moving to Vienna, Memo continued his education and worked in various media organizations before founding his own media agency, Ronîgarde. Today, he is the creative force behind the agency, telling visual stories that move and connect. He produced a pro bono short film series for UNHCR – and when we asked if we could film a portrait of him, Memo decided to take the director’s seat and tell his own story instead.
A voice for stories that often go unheard
“Refugee stories aren’t stories of weakness,” Memo says. “They are stories of survival, courage, and new beginnings.” His films challenge silence – inviting us to look closer, to listen, and to make space for perspectives that are too often overlooked.
In 2025, Memo partnered with journalist and activist Rania Ali to co-create Rania x UNHCR – 2015 and Beyond, a video series for UNHCR offering personal insights into displacement and starting over in Austria.
