Notre Dame University-Louaize’s (NDU) Radio/TV students have won across the board for their shorts in local and international film festivals. At the Faculty of Humanities’ (FH) Division of Audio Visual Arts (DAVA), Yara Lahoud, Maryline Naaman, Tracy Bou Farah, and Guibert Najarian already have their feet in the door of the industry, their short films capturing just the right amount of attention, applause, and awards.
“Lady of a Portrait,” Yara Lahoud’s entry to the Lebanese Independent Film Festival, follows the portrait of a woman whose reality, upon her understanding the truth of her existence, is altered and disjointed, granting Yara the award of Best Narrative Short Film for her unique premise and storytelling.
Closing a Beirut bar for the night in Maryline Naaman’s “So Cool” is Nathalie, who is waiting for her boyfriend, Amin, to celebrate his casting in a major feature film. Amin, however, walks in with some news, and the night takes an unexpected turn. At the screening of her film, Maryline impressed the Batroun Mediterranean Film Festival’s jury and audience alike, winning both Best Lebanese Short Film and Audience Choice Award.
Finally, the joint efforts of Tracy Bou Farah and Guibert Najarian for their film, “Blinded by Desire,” came with a wave of success, gaining significant notice in Lebanon and abroad: in countries such as Spain, Turkey, and Canada, the pair consistently ranked at the top of the charts:
- Best Student Short Film, Lebanese Independent Film Festival, Lebanon
- Best Actress, Lebanese Independent Film Festival, Lebanon
- Best Lebanese Short Film, Maskoon Fantastic Film Festival, Lebanon
- Best Short Film Audience Choice Award, Lebanese Film Festival, Canada
- Best Student Film Editing, FICIMAD, Spain
- Best Short Horror Film, Halicarnassus Film Festival, Turkey
- Best Horror Short Film, Hallucinea Film Festival, France, Online
- Best Student Film, Thrills and Chills Film Awards, Online
Tracy and Guibert showcased a sinister depiction of one man whose fascination with the mysterious deaths of children leads him to unlikely places, ultimately surrendering his humanity. With such a disconcerting and daring subject, sweeping this many wins comes as little shock.
Yara, Maryline, Tracy, and Guibert have demonstrated remarkable creativity, pushing the boundaries of storytelling with gusto, and their accomplishments are nothing short of admirable and inspiring. In a time where Lebanon is experiencing great hardships, these students have recognized the necessity of creation rather than destruction, leading a new generation and new culture forth, the arts and aestheticism ever the means of connection and community. To say NDU is proud is an understatement.