Alain J. Roukoz - Roots
A woman resuscitates her late husband, a lumberjack. As memories are awakening, we discover the pleasant and bitter encounters of their early life together.
Alain-Jean Roukoz, 20 years old, is studying cinematography at IESAV - USJ. His movies are inspired by every day’s events, established in a poetic set up.
Eliane Houais – Trust Me I am a Granny
Georgette wants a grandson. She already has four granddaughters who will do anything to avoid having a boy amongst them. She lost hope after realizing her prayers were in vain, so she decides to follow by the book old recipes her neighbor gave her in order to get her daughter in-law to give birth to a boy.
Eliane has a bachelor in audio-visual, sound specialization from Université Saint Joseph. She started playing the piano at a young age, which fueled her curiosity in sound. Her film is inspired by her own traditional Lebanese family, which is waiting for a baby boy.
Timothy Rackart - Head Over Heels
A husband and wife have grown apart over the years. He lives on the floor, she lives on the ceiling, and their marriage hangs in the balance.
Timothy is an Oscar-nominated director. He received his BA from Harvard University, and did his post-graduate at the National Film & Television School. His début animated short, Head Over Heels, won the first Annie Award for Student Film, was nominated for the Academy Award and the Cartoon d’Or, and won over 30 other awards at festivals around the world.
Inshalla Montero – Man of Squares
A businessman draws thousands of squares on paper in return for gold. He is trapped in a room where he forgets the outside world. One day a series of visitors bring gifts that trigger his memories, and a watch revives something inside of him.
Inshallah is a Digital Filmmaking graduate from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde in Manila, Philippines. Her documentary and experimental short films won at the Gawad CCP Film Festival. Inshalla’s thesis film, "Man of Squares", won at the Manhattan International Film Festival in New York and was screened at the United Nations under the World Youth Alliance.
Manar Saad – Keshtben
A family social documentary created through observing actions of two sisters in their 80’s. One was married for 9 months, while the other never wed. The director is visiting them as they prepare her wedding gown.
Manar IESAV - USJ. “Keshtben” has been accepted as part of ‘Pisek Film Festival’ in Czech Republic and ‘Beirut International Film Festival’.
Nader Moussally – Khizanat Mirvatte
Mirvatte, is a woman in her golden years. She is overly attached to her clothing and her bridal trousseau that she had kept safe in her locked closet. Early one morning, all the dresses decided to escape from this jail in order to get a breath of fresh air.
Nader is a photographer who just finished his second year at IESAV - USJ and is majoring in cinematography. He has experience as a fashion photographer, and his professional experience includes being an assistant art director and assistant director in many music videos. He is also an actor.
Raneem Halabi – House of Absentia
Céline lost her father as a child. Haunted by his death, she struggles to let go. Céline returns to her childhood home one night before the new tenants arrive and her father’s presence is stronger than ever. She questions whether these manifestations are real or a deception.
Raneem studied Communication Arts at LAU. She acted in many student productions and participated in festivals in Jordan and Egypt. The play she directed participated in the LAU International Theatre Festival and MISHKAL12. She directed her first documentary and participated in the NDU Film Festival.
Kristian Abouanni – The Comeback of a ‘Has-Been’
Nina Bassoul was a 70s child prodigy. After 40 years of absence, we witness her "Comeback" in a TV series, where she plays a secondary role. This eye-awakening experience makes her realize that she's no longer the star she once was.
Kristian graduated IESAV - USJ in 2013, after directing his first short movie called "The Comeback Of A ‘Has-been’”.
Julien Tavitian – Strangers in the Night
Beirut, during the civil war. Marie, a young Christian woman walks home drunk. At her arrival, she encounters Omar, a Muslim militia man, who starts harassing her. Little by little, Marie starts taking control of the situation.
Born and raised in Beirut, Julien studied filmmaking at the ALBA. He is currently completing his masters program in directing and is writing his second short film.
Inaam Attar – Once Upon A Time… a Dinasour
A voyage with the soul… A sneak peak... A face à face... A distorted poem… A complex relationship between truth and fiction... A story as old as the world… A story of the dinosaur.
Inaam graduated from IESAV-USJ. She has participated in various workshops such as "Journaliste reporter d'images/JRI" and "Cine-Jam".
Bachar Khattar – Reflection
A self-reflection in the mirror … a washing machine … and love.
Bachar studied at IESAV - USJ. He was camera assistant on a documentary "Mercedes", and director of photography on web series. His first short film earned the best cinematography award at the NDU film festival. He is currently working on TV-commercials, TV-programs, Video clips and short documentaries.
Dania Bdeir – Blank
Dania lives in New York where she is getting her MFA at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Cherine Khoury – Rot in Hell
A girl's inner rage against abuse meets a de/construction site.
With a degree in film from ALBA, Cherine moved to Montreal where she directed several short films within the film school INIS. She returned to Beirut and started working as an Assitant Director which gave her the opportunity to work along side great professionals like Pierre Morel, Hiam Abbas, Tetsuo Nagato, Michel Amathieu, and Berto. Cherine is now in NYC working as a videographer on fashion and music videos.
Lama Ibrahim – Harka
Lara meets her lover who is travelling for good. She tries to convince him to stay. She creates a situation in her mind whereby she forces him to stay. However, reality checks in and she is left alone.
After enrolling in Political Science, Lama followed her passion and studied filmmaking at IESAV - USJ. After graduating, Lama took 3 years off as she dealt with personal issues that inspired this film. She considers that she learnt from a failure and made it a success.
Amir Haffar - Ramadan
This documentary takes us on a journey with young Ramadan, as we follow him around discovering his passion towards the art of Muay Thai.
Amir graduated from LAU where he discovered his interest in film.
Elsy Hajjar - I Call It Love
An encounter, a phone call, rain and lightening.
A love lost in the darkness of a city, Beirut.
Elsy graduated from USEK. She participated in "Cine-Jam". Cinematography and filmmaking are an intense passion that drives Elsy’s life.
Simon Souaid - Alf Lira W lira
Simon is an ALBA student.
Cybelle Meghames - Weak Point
Maya is an overweight 20 year old that is rejected by those around her. This leads her to create an inner world for herself, fantasizing about alternative responses to each humiliating situation.
Cybelle is passionate about filmmaking and the art of performance. She is a fresh graduate from IESAV-USJ. “Weak Point” was her senior project; it was selected in several festivals.
Mokhtar Beirut – Studio Beirut
Beirut 1963. The city is preparing for the next election. Toufik, a young photographer who just inherited his grandfather’s shop, finds his "Studio Beirut" threatened when the mayor of the neighborhood installs the city's first photo booth next door.
Mokhtar is a fashion and portrait photographer. He asserts that his visual style possesses a very personal take on color, light and emotions. He graduated in filmmaking from IESAV - USJ.
Anthony Chidiac - Mol Y Sol
Carole and Lama are coworkers who decide to take the day off against all odds to enjoy the summer...on the roof of their building.
After his graduation from IESAV - USJ, Anthony followed the path of independent cinema. He has directed one short fiction and one short documentary during the Danish Exchange program in 2010. He is also a freelancer in the various domains of filmmaking.
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