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Manara (film)
''Manara'' ( ar, منارة) is the second short film directed by Lebanese filmmaker Zayn Alexander. It premiered in 2019 during the 76th Venice International Film Festival in the Giornate degli Autori section. The film was awarded the top prize at the 5th annual Laguna Sud - Il Cinema fuori dal Palazzo by a jury that included director Paola Randi, director of photography Valerio Azzali, and writer Franceso Targhetta. It went on to win the "Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking" at the 2020 ÉCU The European Independent Film Festival and "Best Narrative Short Film" at the 2020 Alexandria Short Film Festival in Egypt. Plot In a coastal town in Southern Lebanon, the Zayyad family seemed to have it all: A hotel by the sea, a lasting marriage, and strong family ties. But this seemingly perfect portrait takes a hit when the father dies under mysterious circumstances. Alia, the bereaved wife, is intent on lying about her husband’s cause of death in order to maintain a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zayn Alexander
Zayn Alexander is a Lebanese film director and actor based in New York City. He is known for his work on the short films ''Abroad'' and '' Manara''. Life and career Alexander was born and raised in Lebanon. Alexander studied psychology at the American University of Beirut and left for the United States to pursue acting in 2010. In New York City, he met fellow actor, Pascale Seigneurie, who would soon become a frequent collaborator. The two paired up to create ''Abroad'', a film about a Lebanese couple pursuing their acting dreams in America and struggling with being typecast in Middle Eastern roles. Seigneurie wrote the short film, Alexander directed. The film was shot in one day. It debuted at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2018. The Moise A. Khayrallah Center has awarded Alexander and ''Abroad'' The 2020 Khayrallah Art Prize. In 2019, Alexander and Seigneurie followed up with '' Manara'', a short film about a Lebanese funeral and a family coping with the cult ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |