Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) held its 17th edition of the NDU International Film Festival - Beirut Shorts in partnership with the Beirut Film Society (BFS) and in collaboration with the Emile Chahine Foundation. The event took place from November 21 to November 24, 2023, at the Bechara el-Rai Theater on the Main Campus.
The Festival began with introductory speeches from Fr. Bechara Khoury, NDU President, who affirmed that while the strenuous political circumstances have impeded Lebanese youth’s ambitions, these obstacles have also showcased their resilience and strength. Fr. Khoury stated: “Today we are here to display the truth, and to demonstrate cinema’s powers in not only revealing reality, but also in capturing the sublime and the elegance of thought.” The Father President commended filmmakers’ courage in advocating for human rights through their art, especially during moments of strife, observing that “war is not the absence of peace, but an absence of love.”
Dr. Maria Bou Zeid, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities (FH), took the stage, commenting on the importance of the Festival: “The film festival celebrates the transformative power of storytelling, a power through which creativity and culture resistance converge to imagine and shape a brighter future.” Similarly, Dr. Bou Zeid praised the undertaking of cinema as an object of study and art, noting: “Cinema, in its various forms, has always been a mirror reflecting the complexities of our society. It has the unique ability to capture the power of our shared human experience.”
In his address following the introductory speeches, Sam Lahoud, the founding director of the NDU International Film Festival - Beirut Shorts, emphasized the vital role of cinema in cultural resistance and resilience. He urged all those involved in the Lebanese and Arab cinema industry to ensure that their voices are heard against various forms of injustice. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the various offices, departments, and sponsors that contributed to the organization of the event.
The jury consisted of producer and president Sabine Sidawi, actress Diamand Abou Abboud, director Michel Kammoun, director and actor Fouad Yammine, as well as director Amin Dora. Emile Chahine, renowned actor, film critic, and professor, also presented the “Emile Chahine Award for Cinematic Excellence.”
The Festival included numerous debates and lectures, under the title, “Set Dual,” the first of which comprised a discussion between director Bahij Hojeij and cinematographer Milad Tauk, as well as between Kammoun and actress Rita Hayek. The Festival also organized a seminar titled “Cinema for Peace” with director Zina Daccache. An award ceremony wrapped the show, announcing the winners:
Sparks Competition
Audience Choice Award: Oumnya / Eliane Zouein / Lebanon
International Competition
- Best Experimental Film: Mast Del / Maryam Tafakory / United Kingdom
- Best Animated Film: Zoo / Tariq Rimawi / Jordan
- Best Documentary Film: Hardly Working / Total Refusal / Austria
- Grand Jury Award: Nada De Todo Esto / Patricio Martínez, Francisco Cantón / Argentina
- Best Fiction Film: Daydreaming So Vividly About Our Spanish Holidays / Christian Avilés / Spain
National Competition
- Best Student Animation Film: A Loving Mom / Ribal Abi Raad / Lebanon
- Best Student Documentary Film: A Self Portrait of Four Chapters / Sleiman Altinawi, Ayham Ateya / Lebanon
- Grand Jury Award Film: See You Soon / Carly Hanna / Lebanon
- Best Student Film: An Album of Vows / Elio Tarabay / Lebanon
- Best Short Film: If the Sun Drowned into an Ocean of Clouds / Wissam Charaf / France, Lebanon
- Emile Chahine Award for Cinematic Excellence: If the Sun Drowned into an Ocean of Clouds / Wissam Charaf / France, Lebanon
- Audience Choice Award: An Album of Vows / Elio Tarabay / Lebanon
Seeds Competition
- Audience Choice Award: Tanjara w Ghataha / Zinia Khalifeh, Ryan Nakhleh / Lebanon