READING TIME: 2 min 59 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/19/2025
UPDATED: 11/19/2025
There are artists whose work feels intentional, composed, and directed — and then there are those who make you forget the camera ever existed. Sweden-based filmmaker Rawand Younes belongs to the second kind. His films breathe, move, and live on their own. They feel like memories rather than productions.
And his journey began far earlier than most.
Rawand’s love for filmmaking was born the way great stories often are — unexpectedly, suddenly, and with childlike purity.
My passion for filmmaking started when I was 11, after watching the Swedish classic Kopps in the cinema. I told my dad I wanted to make films like that one day — and just a month later, he gave me my first camera.
From that moment, a camera became an extension of him.
“I’ve had one in my hand ever since.”
What he couldn’t have predicted, even in his wildest childhood dreams, was how life would complete the circle:
“Little did I know that 22 years later, I’d be filming the wedding of Kopps director Josef Fares. Talk about destiny.”
Destiny indeed.
Today, Rawand lives north of Stockholm, married to his high school sweetheart, raising two children, and documenting weddings across Sweden and the world — always with his Sony a7sIII close at hand.
Unlike many wedding filmmakers who begin intentionally, Rawand’s path was beautifully organic.
“I wish I could tell you I have done weddings all my life but I did my first wedding in 2019 for a friend and consider myself fortunate to have documented more than 55 weddings in total.”
That first experience opened a door he never planned to walk through — but now can’t imagine closing.
Rawand’s approach is the opposite of staged. He doesn’t interrupt, orchestrate, or fabricate.
“My style can be described as ‘non-staged’ where I see myself more as a spectator than a director as the special moments cannot be recreated.”
To achieve that, he becomes part of the scene — but in the softest, most invisible way.
“While filming I’ll try to blend in with the guests or hide behind the bushes — not as creepy as it sounds — just so you don’t feel the pressure of being filmed. In that way I capture the real you.”
That philosophy shapes everything: the quiet intimacy, the natural rhythm, the way his films feel effortlessly real.
Photography freezes a moment. Videography holds it gently and lets it breathe.
“Videos capture a whole lot more and gives another vibe than photos. It captures voices, movement, feelings, sounds and much more.”
For Rawand, the real joy lies in sharing that moment with couples on what may be the happiest day of their lives.
“As a videographer, I love to be in the moment. And what better to be with people on one of their best days in life.”
Rawand’s process is grounded in empathy — and in listening more than talking.
“I listen, I observe, I try to make it as natural as possible. The wedding highlight should be a reflection of you and not something else.”
This is why he believes compatibility matters just as much as artistry.
“Get to know your videographer. They are going to be on your most important day. Make sure it's someone you would like to invite on your own wedding day and you don’t want strangers there.”
For him, great films come from trust — not just talent.
Recognition often comes quietly, then all at once. In 2024, Rawand received one of Europe’s most meaningful honors:
“I won ‘Europe's Film of the Year – Way Up North 2024.’ Would probably say ‘buy some confetti for the announcement’ as I didn't think I would win.”
A reminder to celebrate yourself, even before the world does.
Rawand lights up when he talks about traveling for weddings — because for him, the role becomes more than filmmaker.
“Yes, I love destination weddings. If there's an award for professional third-wheeler, I would’ve won that!”
As for his favorite destination?
Everywhere! A dream is to go outside of Europe!
Wherever love takes him, he’s ready with his camera — blending into the story, capturing the moments couples never want to forget.
