In the framework of the European Film Festival, EU Ambassador Christina Lassen awarded on 4 February the Lebanese Students’ Best Short Film Prize to two short films:

• “Brine – Ijaj” by Line Itani a graduate from the Lebanese American University. The jury praised her for the creative and ambitious work on the universe that she created. Goethe-Institut Lebanon will be inviting Line Itani to the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival.
• “Fishing out of the Sea” by Hala el Kouch, a graduate from the Lebanese University. The film impressed the jury for the original telling of a powerful script. L’Institut français du Liban will be inviting Hala el Kouch to an International Film Festival in France.

Twelve short films, presented by twelve Lebanese audiovisual schools, were screened at the European Film Festival (Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts, Al Kafaat University, American University of Technology, American University of Science and Technology, Lebanese American University, Lebanese German University, Lebanese International University, Notre Dame University, Université des Pères Antonins, Université Libanaise, Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik and Université Saint-Joseph).

The jury was composed of: Elisa Nobel from Goethe-Institut Libanon; Cynthia Kanaan from L’Institut français du Liban; Culture journalist Sandra Khoury; Badih Massaad, director and distributor; and Louise Malherbe from Metropolis Association.

Awarding the prizes, Ambassador Lassen said: “This year, the European Film Festival paid tribute to Jean Chamoun, one of the giants of his generation of Lebanese filmmakers. And since in Europe we are also celebrating the Year of Cultural Heritage, it is fitting to look at you as the custodians of your Lebanese cinematic cultural heritage.” “We are therefore proud to, not only reward your hard work and creativity, but also to acknowledge your role as one of the future builders of Lebanon’s cultural heritage,” she added.

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Press Release

Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon