Brandt Andersen’s The Strangers’ Case Renamed I WAS A STRANGER Ahead of Angel’s Theatrical Launch
Following 5 Families During the Syrian Civil War, Festival Favorite Adopts a New Name that Reflects Both Authenticity and Timeless Humanity
Provo, UT – September 18, 2025 – Angel (NYSE: ANGX), an unprecedented media and technology company driven by 1.5 million grassroots Angel Guild members championing values-based stories, today announced that its award-winning international drama THE STRANGERS’ CASE will be released under a new title: I WAS A STRANGER. The film will release in select theaters on December 31, 2025, followed by a wide release on January 9, 2026.
“After extensive market testing that targeted all age groups and demographics, we responded to audiences who overwhelmingly resonated with changing the title to I WAS A STRANGER. The new title powerfully brings the film’s heart and spirit to inspire compassion and empathy across borders into sharper focus,” said Brandon Purdie, Global Head of Theatrical Distribution & Brand Development. “I WAS A STRANGER is more than a film, it’s a call to see each other’s humanity.”
View the trailer HERE
Inspired by Brandt Andersen’s Oscar-shortlisted 23 minute film REFUGEE (2020), I WAS A STRANGER has already been featured in more than 40 global film festivals, garnering numerous audience awards and earned the Amnesty International Film Award at the 2024 Berlinale. Praised for its poignant storytelling and emotional impact, the film’s journey through the global festival circuit has built a passionate following and earned critical acclaim for its deeply human exploration of everyday people caught in the crosshairs of war-torn nations..
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share I WAS A STRANGER with a broader audience through Angel,” said writer/director Andersen. “This story has resonated with viewers all over the world and I believe the themes of empathy and courage are more important than ever.”
The film unfolds against the backdrop of the Syrian Civil War. It follows Amira (Yasmine Al Massri), a pediatric surgeon, and her daughter, whose tragedy sparks a chain of events connecting five families across four continents in a story of resilience and hope. The ensemble cast includes Omar Sy, Yahya Mahayni, Ziad Bakri, Constantine Markoulakis, and Jason Beghe, with performances lauded by festival juries as “extraordinary” and “mythology-making.”
I WAS A STRANGER will release in select theaters on December 31, 2025, and then opening wide on January 9, 2026. For more information, visit angel.com/stranger.
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About Brandt Andersen: Brandt Andersen is an American writer, director, producer, and activist whose work bridges storytelling and humanitarian impact. His debut feature, I WAS A STRANGER, follows his Oscar-shortlisted short REFUGEE. Andersen has contributed as a producer for over 30 films and is a founder of The REEL Foundation. He has spent over a decade advocating for refugees through art and aid initiatives.
About Angel Studios, Inc.: Angel Studios is a values-based distribution company for stories that amplify light to mainstream audiences. Through the Angel Guild, over 1,500,000 paying members from more than 180 different countries help decide what film and television projects the studio will market and distribute, and support the filmmakers who create films and series that amplify light. For more information please visit www.angel.com.