On Tuesday, as part of another KVIFF Talk, a discussion took place with the Lebanese directors and producers presenting their films at this year's most extensive retrospective section, the Week of Lebanese Film. This section presents eight films made over the past twenty-five years in a country with one of the longest cinematic histories in the Middle East.
During the talk the filmmakers revealed that they can expect to raise more money for their projects from foreign sources. "Just after the war, in the 90s, it was mostly small films being made in Lebanon, mainly for French money," producer Myriam Sassine explained, elaborating on the history of modern cinema in the country.
Ely Dagher, author of the fifteen-minute partially animated film Waves '98, which brought him the Palme d'Or for the best short film at Cannes this year, recalled the start of his artistic career at the meeting. "When I was sixteen and decided to become a filmmaker, I admired the work of Nadine Labaki, who was still shooting commercials and music videos at the time," the talented filmmaker said, referring to one of the most famous Lebanese directors of the present day.
Franco-Lebanese director Philippe Aractingi debated whether it is proper that foreign producers essentially view contemporary Lebanese cinema through the lens of war. "I had it happen that they refused a script of mine in France because the story was alleged too far removed from the Lebanese reality. It's a shame that when you're trying to get foreign funding for, say, a musical, you have less of a chance of succeeding than if you want to shoot a war drama.“
