Rana rises from the ashes

Titled Almost Zero, the film’s haunting visuals are a sobering reminder of the sheer scale of devastation wrought by the LA fires. 

Directed by Saam Gabbay, who also composed the music, the haunting film originated from a voicenote left by his friend Rana Wilson, who appears in the film and is heard describing her experiences after the fire. 

The director, who also processed his own personal feelings of loss through the project, commented: "To accompany a friend to their ashen home for the first time is a disquieting privilege. One found only the dishes, perfectly preserved in the dishwasher, lifting them like a victorious child on a scavenger hunt. Numb, I stayed silent and kept rolling, my breath recorded through my respirator, wondering if I was of any use, if the film would resolve. Then I understood. Watching my friends’ lives reduced to almost zero echoed my own family’s escape from Iran, where we left not just our home but our heritage.

"This film carries that imprint."