Nidal Al Achkar in El Wewiyeh directed by Nagy Souraty

Al Madina Theatre

Presents

NIDAL AL ACHKAR

In

EL WEWIYEH

a theatre performance directed by Nagy Souraty

after texts by Bertolt Brecht adapted and translated by Elie Adabachi

The Arab World is changing at a very high speed, we do not know if the so called springs can still be considered springs or if they turned into wars.

Lebanon finds itself in the very privileged and awkward position of the witness, a witness who is in the middle of it all. Being witnesses, and not wanting to take part in what is happening to us, and not wanting to take advantage of it while some are doing so, we are bound to reflect on it. 

The theatre imposes itself as the best space to share our thoughts and contemplate on what is happening along with the audience. 

About the performance

“EL WEWIYEH”

a theatre performance directed by Nagy Souraty

after texts by Bertolt Brecht adapted and translated by Elie Adabachi

music created & performed by Abed Kobeissi and Ali Hout 

with singing improvisations by Khaled El Abdallah

“EL WEWIYEH”

will be performed at Al Madina Theatre 

in December 2013 before touring the Arab

and the western world

This performance uses texts from Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage, transposed in a way to mirror problematics of the Arab World today, with the unconventional use of musical interference and puppetry; the characters reflect stories of its citizens. The richness, pride and betrayals of the culture tread on a new path in questioning the truths in a fluid world.

Nidal Al Achkar interprets the role of El Wewiyeh. El Wewiyeh has three sons. Her eldest son is interpreted by Khaled El Abdallah, who communicates through speech and songs. Her two other sons, interpreted by Abed Kobeissi and Ali Hout communicate through music. The other characters are interpreted by Hadi Deaibess who uses puppetry. 

This performance tackles social issues using dark humor. Through her journey, El Wewiyeh will try to expose her views about war and peace unto her children, and the other people she meets on the road. She explains that during wars her instinct for survival made her a trader. 

The performance is approximately 65 minutes long.

Nidal Al Achkar

Nidal Al Achkar is a Lebanese artist who played a leading role in launching the theatre and Cultural movement in Lebanon, and the Arab world. 

As an actor and director, Nidal graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. It was her encounter with the legendary Joan Littlewood that changed her view on theatre and life.  Nidal contributed as an actress and director, through her body of work to transforming Lebanese theatre from its elitism to a more reachable and popular form.  She has also performed in a number of important T.V. productions and films.

Nidal participated in many lectures, discussions, conferences, and seminars concerning cultural issues, including, theatre, social, political, gender, and the arts. 

Nidal Al Achkar livened up Arab poetry, and promoted verse to communicate with the public. She received several honors, most notably the High Honors of Culture from the President of Tunis as well as a Knight of Arts and Letters, by the French Government.

Nidal had the leading role opposite, the Noble Prize winner, Wole Soyinka at the TNP in a play directed by Joan Littlewood. She was in Yemen to do a reading with Noble Prize winner Günter Grass, as he read his work in German, Nidal was reading his poetry in Arabic. 

A cultural provocateur to the core, she founded with a group of artists “The Beirut Theatre Workshop” in the late 1960s. She dealt boldly with contemporary social, political and regional issues. In the mid-80s, Nidal established from Amman, Jordan, the “Arab Actors” theatre company, which included 13 different Arab countries. They toured the Arab world and crowned their tours in London’s Royal Albert Hall. 

Nidal established Al Madina Theatre, in 1994, which became the center of gravity for culture and art in Beirut. 

Dame Nidal, as the Arab press likes to call her, is the head of the Board of the Trustees, as well as the Founder and Director of Masrah Al-Madina Cultural and Arts Center. 

Khaled Al Abdallah

Khaled El Abdallah was born in Kefershuba. He has pursued the knowledge of music since a young age. 

He participated in many television shows. 

In 1993 he won the first place in the Tarab category in 'Studio El Fan’. 

Khaled holds a degree in acting and a degree in law. 

After working as a lawyer for three years, he was given an ultimatum by the Lebanese Bar Association: either practice law or pursue an artistic career. From 2005 until 2013 he taught sound engineering at the Lebanese University. 

He created a software that generates infinite number of melodies based on algorithms to which he received a patent. 

He also worked as a journalist in Al Nahar newspaper for 4 years as a music critic. 

Abed Kobeissy

Born in Beirut in 1982, Abed is a buzuq player and holds a Masters degree in musicology.

Among the several groups specialized in traditional Arabic music that he founded in Beirut are ‘Ensemble Mayal’ and ‘Ahl El-Hawa’. 

He is a member of ‘Ensemble Asil’ and ‘The Great Departed’.

He also contributed as a member in western music Lebanese 

Bands. Abed participated in several Arabic and International festivals. 

Ali Hout

Born in Beirut in 1985, Ali is a percussionist and an actor.

He holds a Graduate degree in acting.

He is a member of "Ensemble Asil" and "The Great Departed" for Arabic music. 

Ali participated in several Arabic and International festivals.

Hadi Deaibess

Hadi is a Lebanese actor, musician and street performer. He studied acting at the Lebanese University. He started his career as an actor in 2008, and has worked as an actor, a puppeteer, a musician, and a set designer. Hadi studied traditional West African music in Lebanon and Guinea Conakry and now is a member or Jebebara Unity Drum group. He is a hospital clown doctor since 2009, and works as a clown, juggler, mime and musician.

Elie Adabachi

Elie Adabachi has been involved in numerous productions playing several vital roles. As a director, he filmed a television drama series in 

Syria, a documentary film in Yemen, a TV movie in Lebanon which won a Murex D'Or for best TV movie in 2008, and two TV series in Lebanon. 

Elie also directed many advertising, documentary and corporate films for several companies. 

He was a Second Unit and Assistant Director for movies in Cyprus, Italy and Greece as well as the assistant director on Schloëndorff's film Die Fälschung. 

He was a mentor at ALBA University for seminars on directing, production, schedule and shooting as well as following up Masters students with their projects.

Elie has a long history working alongside Maroun Baghdadi, Youssef Chahine, Samir Nasri and others. He has a certificate from the Actor Studio in Los Angeles. 

Nagy Souraty

Nagy Souraty was born in Beirut. He obtained his masters of Arts in Drama and Theatre Studies from the Royal Holloway University of London in 1998.
Theatre director and actor, he is known as the Didaskalos. Nagy has been teaching since 1992. 

He taught at the Lebanese American University between 2001 & 2011, where he directed every year a Major Theatre Production. These productions have been acknowledged by the press & the audiences to have taken university theatre in Lebanon to the level of the professional scenes.
He is the coordinator of the artistic education at the Collège Protestant Français, where he has been teaching Theatre & Audiovisual since 1992.

Nagy Souraty is the Artistic Director & board member at the Al Madina Theatre in Beirut. 

He is also co-founder and President of AFPA (AGONISTIK for performing arts - NGO -  license No.908-19/05/2011)

Curator & director of theatre workshops, he participated in many festivals & residences of artists (Avignon, Beirut, Tunis, Damascus, Caen, Vienna, Kuwait, Morocco). 

His experimentation in theatre is institutionalized and recognized as the “Theatre of the Edge”.

Bertolt Brecht 1898 – 1956

Born in Germany, Brecht had been an ambulance driver during the first world war, an experience that made him despise the war. 

He is best known for his plays and poems, in which he embraced anti-bourgeois themes. 

Brecht developed a new approach to the theatre, being famously responsible for arising Epic Theatre. 

He says of this theatrical form, "It is most important that one of the main features of the ordinary theatre should be excluded from Epic Theatre: the engendering of illusion." 

The epic form describes both a type of written drama and a methodological approach to the production of plays. 

Mother Courage and her children 1939

Mother Courage is considered to be the greatest anti-war play of all time. 

It places the audience in judgment of the actions of a woman who lives in a universe defined by war. She often makes cataclysmic choices. 

She refuses to understand the nature of her tragic circumstances; fearing to look back as she assumes it weakens her. 

The play imposes a gradually lonelier world for Mother Courage to live in; it becomes merciless with each choice she makes. But for her, as for us, life goes on.

El Wewiyeh begins as of the 4th of December 2013

at 9:00pm sharp! (doors will be locked at 9:00pm)

every Thursday, Friday and Saturday

tickets on sale at

VIRGIN TICKETING BOX OFFICE 

01 999 666

DRAMATURGY workshop with Hanan Kassab Hassan -AFPA-January2014- @almadinaTHEATRE

DRAMATURGY WORKSHOP 

conducted by Hanan Kassab Hassan 

organized by AFPA - AGONISTIK for performing arts

www.agonistikarts.org

in collaboration with 

Al Madina Theatre Association For Arts & Culture 

ATTC - Arab Theatre Training Centre

TAMASI performing arts collective

MISHKAL festival

حصلت حنان قصاب حسن على الدكتوراه في المسرح من جامعة السوربون في فرنسا (1982) وقامت بتدريس سميولوجيا المسرح والفنون البصرية في عدد من الجامعات منها جامعة دمشق والجامعة اليسوعية في بيروت. كذلك شغلت منصب مدير عام أوبرا دمشق (2009-2011) وأمين عام احتفالية دمشق عاصمة الثقافة العربية
(2007-2009) وعميد المعهد العالي للفنون المسرحية (2006-2009). لها عدد كبير من الأبحاث والكتب من أهمها معجم المسرح، مفاهيم المسرح وفنون العرض، كما أنها ترجمت مسرحيات جينيه وبيكيت وكولتيس وسعدالله ونوس من وإلى الفرنسية

Hanan Kassab-Hassan
PhD in theatre and drama studies from the Sorbonne, she is professor of Semiotics of Visual Arts and Theatre at Damascus University and Saint Joseph University in Beirut.
Kassab-Hassan was also General Manager of Damascus Opera House (2009-2011), General Secretary of Damascus Arab Capital of Culture (2007-2009), and Dean of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts (2006-2009). She wrote many books and articles about theatre and fine arts, among which "Dictionary of theatre, terms and concepts of theatre and performing arts" (2007). She translated also many plays of Genet, Koltes, Beckett and Saadallah Wannous.

Titulaire d'un doctorat de théâtre de la Sorbonne (1982), Hanan Kassab-Hassan s'est consacrée pendant 38 ans à l'enseignement de la sémiologie du théâtre et des arts visuels. Elle a occupé les postes de Directrice Générale de l'Opéra de Damas (2009-2011), de Secrétaire Générale de Damas Capitale Arabe de la Culture (2007-2009), et de Doyenne de l'Institut Supérieur des Arts Dramatiques de Damas (2006-2009). Elle a traduit plusieurs pièces de théâtre (Genet, Koltès, Beckett, Saadallah Wannous) et écrit un grand nombre d'articles et de recherches dont ''Le Dictionnaire de théâtre, termes et concepts du théâtre et des arts dramatiques'' (1997).

4 sessions of 5 hours each,
January, 11, 12, 18, 19, 2014
from 2:00pm till 7:00pm

participation fees: 99.000 LBP
(AFPA members: 44.000 LBP)

APPLICATIONS:http://www.scribd.com/doc/176870300/AFPA-Dramaturgy-Workshop-Application-2014

applications should be sent to:
agonistik.theatre@gmail.com
cc to: nagy.souraty@gmail.com

Deadline for the submission of applications is on Friday December 20, 2013 at 2:00 pm

PLACES ARE LIMITED

for more info: + 961 70 72 71 78

Join the Facebook page for this event for further updates and information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/462113180570265/?ref=22

NAGY SOURATY OPENING CEREMONY SPEECH @MISHKALfestival 2013

Organizing a festival for all arts,
a festival for the youth and by the youth, in Septembre 2013,
in the heart of Beirut and making it happen, is our statement, is the statement of Al Madina Theatre.
Everybody was asking us if we were indifferent to what was happening around us.
Everybody was asking us how can we organize a festival in Beirut, despite what is happening around us?
Our answer was: it is precisely because we are not indifferent to what is happening in the world today that we are organizing this festival,
and that we want this festival to happen.
And here we are tonight, and our festival is happening.

MISHKAL,
a kaleidoscope,
a kaleidoscope of ideas, of forms, of colors,
a kaleidoscope of artists,
a kaleidoscope of young people coming from all the universities in Lebanon,
a kaleidoscope of generations,
If all these kaleidoscopes landed in Al Madina Theatre, it is not a coincidence. It is because Al Madina Theatre was created to become a platform for all arts, a platform of all arts.
Since its creation, Al Madina Theatre, had in its vision the youth,
its aim was to become their platform.
And here they are, the army of young people, occupying the theatre and making it their home.
F. Scott Fitzgerald says: "Youth is a dream, a form of chemical madness." This chemistry between youth and art is mad indeed, but it takes two to tango, we adults also acknowledge our madness.
This chemistry between the madness of two generations makes the dream come true,
and our festival came true.
Last year with the help of the European Union, and this year with the help of the Municipality of Beirut.
Creating a Festival is one thing, but sustaining it is another!

I will now speak in the name of this army of young people who have been working with me devotedly for months.
In their name I thank Mrs. Nidal Al Achkar, Founder & Executive Director of Al Madina Theatre,
who trusted them and who made Al Madina Theatre their second home.
In their name I thank Dr. Bilal Hammad and the Municipality of Beirut who believed in the youth like us,
and who made MISHKAL their own festival too.

In their name I thank Michel Eléfteriadès for accepting to be in charge of our Grand Opening tonight.
I would like to thank Mr. Nassir Kaloush, Governor of the Municipality of Beirut.
I thank Mrs. Alma Salem and Mr. Elie Gemayel and the British Council
who also believed in our project and decided to join us on board. We will be organizing a series of workshops in collaboration with the British Council who acknowledged the importance of our Festival
I thank the Ministry of culture, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Education for their support.
I also thank the team of Al Madina Theatre: Mohammad, Salah, Ali and Louay, as well as the Board of the theatre.
I would like to thank the administrations and the deans of all the universities who encouraged their students to participate massively in our festival.
I would also like to extend my thanks to the participants who are the heart of the festival.
And in the name of Al Madina Theatre I would like thank the youth,
the committee of the festival, the squad of the festival and the team of the festival.. A hell of an army.
If the participants are the heart of the festival I will say without hesitation: you are the soul of the festival,
and do I need to specify that souls are eternal.. 

DR. BILAL HAMAD OPENING CEREMONY SPEECH @MISHKALfestival 2013

أيها الحفل الكريم كم هو هام، وكم هو مشجع هذا اللقاء مع الشباب الواعد، إن هذا المنتدى لمحبي الفن، من موسيقيين ومصورين ومسرحيين وسينمائيين، هو بمثابة أمل كبير بالمستقبل وعطاء يبعث في النفس اطمئنان ًا وفرح ًا بمستقبل وطن كان مركزاً للإشعاع الثقافي في العالمين العربي والدولي ونأمل ونسعى بكل جهد لكي يحافظ على هذا الدور الخلاق في عالم الإبداع والفن. لقاء اليوم في ملتقى الشباب في مسرح المدينة، في مهرجان مختلف الفنون وخصوص ًا في مهرجان ِمشكال بنسخته الثانية يدفعني إلى القول أن المظهر الأول لصراع الحضارات يتجلى من خلال الصراع الثقافي وبالتالي فإن الثقافة المتجذرة والحاضنة لعناصر التطور هي الفائزة في نهاية المطاف، وإن مظاهرها المتجلية في مختلف أنواع الفنون هي الباقية وهي القادرة على المنافسة في معركة الوجود الإنساني. إن الشباب المنخرطين في منتدى ِمشكال اليوم سواء كانوا طلاب ًا جدداً أو خريجين جدداً فإنهم ولا شك يسعون إلى تطوير خبراتهم وتوسيع شبكات العطاء نظراً لما يحملون من طاقات وقدرات وطموحات ترقى إلى إبراز الصورة الثقافية العالية لأنفسهم وللوطن، خصوص ًا وأن هذا المنتدى لن يقتصر فقط على العروض الفنية وإنما على إقامة ورش عمل وطاولات مستديرة تتيح

التعلم وتبادل الخبرات بين مختلف الفنانين وتحديداً الفنانين الصاعدين

أيها الحفل الكريم كانت بيروت وما زالت موئ ًلا للفنانين ونقطة إنطلاق نحو العالمية بكل أشكالها الفنية، كان المسرح في بيروت والشعراء والأدباء والفنانون في بيروت، لكن الحرب بما حملت من ويلات وخراب أصابت هذا التوهج الثقافي الذي كنا نفخر به. معكم ومع تطلعاتكم ومواهبكم ورؤى كل المخلصين سوف تعود بيروت درة الشرق ومركز إنطلاق الشرارة الثقافية. يهمني في هذا السياق أن أؤكد على ان بلدية بيروت سوف لن تألو جهداً في سبيل تحقيق هذه الإنطلاقة وأنها في هذا الإطار تبذل كل الجهد المطلوب، ومشروع «بيت بيروت» هذا المعلم الثقافي الفني بما يحوي من مسرح وصالات عرض للفنون ومكتبة ومركزاً للندوات الفكرية سوف يرى النور في أسرع وقت بعون الله. في النهاية، وإذ أؤكد وقوف بلدية بيروت إلى جانب كل هذه النشاطات الثقافية - الفنية فإنني بإسمي الشخصي وبإسم المجلس البلدي لمدينة بيروت أتمنى لأعمال هذا المنتدى وللشباب الفني الصاعد كل نجاح.

NIDAL AL ACHKAR OPENING CEREMONY SPEECH @MISHKALfestival 2013

«من ربح معركة الشباب ربح معركة الحياة» لا كلام بعد اليوم. فللكلام حدود، الا كلمة الشعر. ولا مجال للتطويل، فلا جدوى منه، الذي يحدث لنا وحولنا، ليس بحاجة الى شرح. فلندخل اذن لغة الفن والتعبير والابداع! لندخل «مشكال», مشكال الموسيقى والمسرح والرسم والنحت والشباب المبدع. غير جبالنا وسهولنا وبحرنا وطبيعة بلادنا الرائعة، فليس لنا الا ملح الأرض. الفنانون.. والليلة نبدأ احتفالنا مع الشباب وفنانيهم ونكرم الرواد المستنيرين بشعلة الايمان الذي يربطهم ببعضهم مع موهبتهم واستمراريتهم ورغم كل شيء. نكرمهم ونحن نكرم الأفضل في مجتمعنا، نكرم الفنانين الأوائل والفنانين الجدد.. نكرم بذلك نبض الحياة في المجتمع، فمن دون الفن يصبح المجتمع صحراء قاحلة ويتخ ّشب ويذهب الى الزوال كمجتمع حضاري، لان الابداع الفني هو الذي يحدد هوية الوطن ومدى قدرته على الحياة. فاستمرارية الابداع هي استمرارية الحياة فينا

MAYA HOBEIKA CONCERT & ALBUM LAUNCH IN MISHKAL FESTIVAL

Maya Hobeika is a Lebanese soprano.  She started her musical career as a member of the LAU choir in 2004. 

After a couple of years, she became one of the choir soloists' performing arias by Bach, Bizet, Mozart, Poulenc, and Saint-Saëns.

In the first edition of MISHKAL in September 2012, Maya performed her first two new songs along with some Arabic classics.

The positive feedback encouraged her to start recording her first album "WARD" which will be released after her concert in MISHKAL13 on Friday September 20 at 10.10pm. There will be an album signing afterwards.

 Maya represented Lebanon in the "Orient meets Occident" festival in Germany in the summer of 2010. She is currently pursuing her "Oud" studies at the National Lebanese Conservatory.

She is in continuous search for a new style that encompasses both her experience in western classical and Arabic classical music.

For more information join the Facebook Page below;

https://www.facebook.com/events/1417184151830241/

OPENING NIGHT OF MISHKAL13 AT AL MADINA THEATRE

MUAY THAI SHOWCASE & SCREENING OF RAMADAN IN MISHKAL AT AL MADINA THEATRE

The champ Ramadan 

The showcase on Thursday 19 September, 2013 will screen a documentary film and the star of the film will be displaying his talents in an interactive Muay Thai demonstration. 

Ramadan Ondash is a five year old Muay Thai prodigy. He is dedicated to this marital art and started training at the age of three. He knows all the Muay Thai fighting techniques in the Thai language. Ramadan is considered among professionals to be the best young Muay Thai fighter in the world. This is all thanks to his older brother, Ahmad who devoted his time to train Ramadan. Ahmad, 21, is a Muay Thai fighter himself who mentors Ramadan to be a respectful, leading athlete. 

The short documentary film that will be screened, Ramadan, is directed by Amir Haffar. This documentary takes us on a journey with young Ramadan, as we follow him around discovering his passion towards the art of Muay Thai. 

For more information check out our Facebook page below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1381490888750423/?ref=br_tf

Shogun Official Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shogun-2/453089444738647

For Info please contact:

Al Madina Theatre / مسرح المدينة

TEL: + 961 1 753 010 /11

FAX: + 961 1 753 012

Agonistik for performing arts directed by Nagy Souraty

TEL: + 961 70727178

JEBEBARA IN MISHKAL FESTIVAL AT AL MADINA THEATRE

Don't miss Jebebara's interactive show on Wednesday 18 September, 2013 at 10.10pm. 

Jebebara is a group dedicated to the performance of traditional West African Rhythms, based on the Djembe and Dununs drums. The group celebrates the power of the Djembe drum to bring people together;  without the community the music does not happen, without the cause for celebration and the dancers, the rhythms is meaningless.  

'Jebebara' is a word that comes from the Bamana people of Mali which translates roughly to "unity drum" or "drum of ceremony". 

The group is based in Beirut, teaching classes, and playing in public and private events. 

For more information please click the links below:

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/JebebaraUnityDrum

Website: www.jebebarabeirut.wordpress.com

THE EMPEROR MICHEL ELEFTERIADES

The Emperor Michel Eléftériadès will be conducting the Grand Opening of MISHKAL13 with his noble subjects of astounding musical talents on September 17, 2013. 

His Imperial Highness is the ruler of Nowheristan, a nation with citizens from all over the world. The Emperor envisioned a new social, philosophical and cultural approach that has evoked passion in the minds and hearts of all who witness his movements.

The Emperor is an Arab pioneer in the world music fusion. He is the founder and co-owner of Elefrecords. His Imperial Highness brought his unprecedented vision to a vibrant new level when he founded “Music Hall” in 2003. The Emperor is also a painter of the highest caliber, as well as a published author.

Emperor Eléftériadès has a vision that has manifested through all forms of art, with brutal honesty that is as inspiring as it is thought provoking. His principals motivate the free minded and young hearted. 

FILM SCREENINGS IN MISHKAL FESTIVAL AT AL MADINA THEATRE 2013

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.  

THEATRE PERFORMANCES IN MISHKAL FESTIVAL AT AL MADINA THEATRE 2013

Mohamad Ataya - Inta Meen Inta?

Inta .. meen Inta is a question of identity. Two people are on an isolated desert with no memory of how they got there. They gradually discover the past they are trying to escape, which includes a torturing oppressor. 

Very passionate about the arts, Mohammad is a graduate LAU. He has a BA in Radio TV-Film and a minor in advertising. He has worked on many student and professional film and play productions.

Feyrouz Abou Hassan - The Script

During a run of a play, a group of actors find a script on stage that says exactly what they have been saying. They start questioning it, trying to understand the script.

Feyrouz is a Communication Arts student at LAU, with an emphasis on theatre. She loves acting and is always working on becoming a better actress. 

A devised play supervised by Siham Nasser 

A graduation project in Acting.The Lebanese Institute of Fine Arts -branch 1- 2013. A dramatic ritual dealing with classical literature and cinema. The students chose to work on the following characters: Jean Valjean, King Lear, Lady Macbeth, Jeanne d’ Arc, Van Gogh, Caligula, Medea and Edith Piaf. They did their research on the chosen references hence forth writing their script, acting out their roles and directing as well. A performing arts project that deals with the intensity and passionate intake of the original reference and its dramatic dimension carrying it to another dimension in relation with the upcoming trends of modern art.


Awad Awad - Sdour El 3ammat

This play discusses the social and psychological issues faced by Arab women in a patriarchal society. It tells the story of three women during their life after death, as they wait for their niece Amira to join them. Meanwhile, they are recalling stories from their past.

Awad Awad, a graphic design student at LAU, has been involved in various roles as an actor, set designer, costume designer, light designer and make up artist. He was involved in seventy-two plays, learning from all his experiences on professional and student sets. He has directed two plays, after writing the scripts himself. 

Firas Hamdan & Hassan Zein - Mashi Online

Two strangers meet on the web searching for their identities and remembering their past.

Hassan Zein and Firas Hamdan are LAU graduates. They have a BA in Communication Arts. Radio- Tv-Film. 

Haneen Issa - The Wall 

Two Palestinians, an artist and a searcher, leave their homeland to study abroad. As the graduates return home, they find a wall preventing them from entering their village. A voice from within 'The Wall' convinces them that it is a 'protective fence' saving them from terrorists. The barrier brings conflict to their return and the demolition of 'The Wall' becomes their goal.

Haneen is an actress and director. Graduating from LAU with a degree in Communication Arts, she discovered her love for theatre. She acted in student theatre productions and films. 

Bshara Atallah – Last Minute EDAGY (Ecole des Arts Ghassan Yammine)

Six characters find themselves merged and submerged between the realms of multiple realities and technology. Cynthia the revolutionary, Lara the spiritual, Nassim the sensitive, Ronald the ambiguous, Stephanie the vulnerable, and Yasmina the impatient. Their dreams of a better world bring them to a dead end. In a Last Minute exercise, to break through, they end up on stage.

Bshara has been involved as an actor and dancer on stage and on screen. He is one of the leading wardrobe designers in Lebanon. He handled producing responsibilities as well. He teaches acting at EDAGY. He participated in a colloquium at The University of Georgia. ‘Last Minute’ is a devised performance using texts from different writers including some of the students of EDAGY.  

MUSIC PERFORMANCES IN MISHKAL FESTIVAL AT AL MADINA THEATRE 2013

Maya Hobeika

Maya started her musical career as a member of the LAU choir in 2004.  

Couple of years later she became one of the choir soloists' performing arias by J.S.Bach, Bizet, Mozart, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns and others. Maya represented Lebanon in the "Orient meets Occident" festival in Germany. She is currently pursuing Oud studies. 

In September 2012 performed at Al Madina Theater as part of "Mishkal" festival. The positive feedback she got after the concert encouraged her to produce her own album "WARD”. The launch of the CD will be during MISHKAL13, with a special concert. 

Martin Loyato 

Martin is a composer, trumpeter, improviser, poet, conductor, and visual artist. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He completed his early studies at the Conservatory Superior of Music in Buenos Aires, received his B.F.A. in Composition and Trumpet Performance at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), and received a Ph.D. in Composition at Stony Brook University. Dr. Loyato has composed and performed concert works for electro-acoustic, dance, theatre, choral, orchestra and chamber ensembles, as well as music for television features and advertisements. Among many private commissions from Europe, New Zealand, Asia, North and South America, he has been commissioned to write a children’s musical, En el Fondo de Mar, to benefit poor children in Buenos Aires.

Sami Nassour Trio

A trio of rock, melody and beat, playing classic covers and favorite tunes.

Chris Thomas & Abe Younan – The Duo

Chris and Abe are a new duo, formed to create the perfect rock blues atmosphere. They are unique and weird characters, but with a promise of a sound that will echo for a while. Both performers playing a variety of cover songs for many years. 

Rhéa Dally

Rhéa is a Lebanese-Palestinian musician influenced by classical music growing up. The first instrument she played was the piano at the age of 6. She was fascinated by Nintendo consoles and gaming systems. She discovered 8-bit and chiptune music. That is when she started using the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles to produce synthesized electronic music.  

Brushnote 

A live collaborative work between the audience by the pianist, Danny Bou-Maroun, and three painters; Maya Akiki, Darine Semaan, and Clara Chidiac. 

Guru 

Formed in Beirut, Guru is a band whose music does not belong to any particular genre. Influenced by a wide range of artists, from Freddie King and Elmore James to Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, Guru blends different styles and ideas into jams and original material.