Listen to the article

The Festival du film libanais de France ended on Sunday, November 26 with bliss, at Cinéma Le Lincoln, Paris. After the screening of filmmaker and jury member Wissam Charaf’s short-movie avant-première, Et si le soleil plongeait dans l’océan des nues, the winners’ names were announced. As the jury members distributed the certificates, the loyal audience clapped, smiling to a new generation of hope.

Running from November 23 until November 26, the Festival du film libanais de France ended on a positive note with a short-movie screening for Wissam Charaf, Et si le soleil plongeait dans l’océan des nues.

Et si le soleil plongeait dans l’océan des nues

The movie is shot in Lebanon, waterfront, where security man Raed’s job was to forbid wanderers from accessing the seaside. Everyday, the horizon is more and more hidden. We witness Raed’s relationship with his manager, the power of position and corruption prevailing as prototypes of the society Raed lives in… We also observe a dreamy creature, as earthy as could be, with her cam in hand, trying to take shots in order to immortalize the scenery and the people in it. Raed steps into this clickable dream… Isn’t there always a thin line between dreams and reality?

Seeing Life Through the New Generation’s Lens

The festival graced the attendees with a long-awaiting list of awards, highlighting a new generation of talents. Mounia Akl shed light on the importance of the topic of mental health, bravely highlighted in some movies. Stephanie Atalla, main actress of Farah by Hassiba Freiha and Kenton Oxley, approved Mounia’s statement, adding that it is nice to see the resilience of Lebanese people who, despite their struggles, keep doing art. Sam Lahoud addressed a specific message to the youth in the world of cinema, stating, “I think this is the moment where voices should be heard the most, so keep your voices high, do not bent in front of soft power or agendas. You are the real writers of Lebanese History… History books are a big lie… The real History is written by artists.” This year, for the festival’s 3rd edition, two awards were added “last minute,” Prix du jeune espoir (Prize of Young Hope) to Ribal Chedid and Mention spéciale réalisation to Carl Haddad, whose movies were a time glimpse in terms of psychological, deep, emotional and authentic rawness, well-constructed line and technical accuracy.

 

Prizes and Awards

Special Mention for Direction: Les Soeurs de la rotation by Michel and Gaby Zarazir.

Special Mention for Direction – Student Category: You are now connected by Laetitia Moya Moukarzel.

Special Mention for Direction – Student Category: Still Grieving by Carl Haddad.

Special Mention for Screenplay: Les chenilles by Michelle and Noël Keserwany.

Special Mention for Screenplay – Student Category: You are now connected by Laetitia Moya Moukarzel.

Special Mention for Screenplay – Student Category: Talk to me by Ribal Chedid.

Special Mention for Acting: Zeina Sfeir in Les soeurs de la rotation.

Special Mention for Acting – Student Category: Room16 by Carole Abboud.

Special Mention for Sound: Rind by Romy Matar.

Special Mention for Cinematography: Les soeurs de la rotation by Michel and Gaby Zarazir.

Special Mention for Cinematography – Student Category: Beyond the Sea by Melinda Delaloye.

Young Hope Award – Student Category: Introduction to perfect Heists by Chelsea Choukeir and Hussein Fneish.

Best Fiction Film Award: Les soeurs de la rotation by Michel and Gaby Zarazir.

Best Documentary Award: Un pour huit by Lynn Tawilé.

Jury Award: Rind by Romy Matar.

Instagram: @mariechristine.tayah