Filmed in a village in the north of Iraq, Goptapa, The First Movie explores and revels in the magic of children’s imaginations against the backdrop of a highly troubled region, where thousands of families have been expelled and been victims of chemical weapons. Life is a struggle for many, with Goptapa's children terrified of war and insecure about the future. Yet their sense of play, creativity and adventure is robust.

Acclaimed filmmaker Mark Cousins captures this robustness through a groundbreaking experiment, loaning the children video cameras and encouraging them to make their own first movies. In a vivid, unfolding and engaging way, the film shows how their personalities emerge, how they respond to movies, and how inventiveness in children works. It watches the spirited manner in which the children incorporate harsh realities into their imaginative lives, and uncovers the enthralling individuality of each of the children. Initially puzzled and then soon excited by the simple video cameras they are given, the children's captivating own films reveal the story of life as they see it.

The result is a rich tapestry of fun and fantasy, but also of horrifying trauma – a compelling insight into a community which in the face of adversity remains full of life, spirit and warmth.