‘Anxious in Beirut’ wins Golden Goblet at Shanghai Int’l Film Festival

AMMAN — The documentary "Anxious in Beirut," directed by Zakaria Jaber from Lebanon and produced by Jumana Saadeh from Jordan, received the esteemed Golden Goblet Award at the renowned Shanghai International Film Festival on Sunday. اضافة اعلان

The film's outstanding storytelling and thought-provoking content were recognized and celebrated by the jury.

"Anxious in Beirut," a collaborative effort between Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Spain, emerged as a standout among a diverse and highly competitive selection of films. Its unique youthful perspective and compelling narrative captivated both the festival jury and audiences alike, a press statement said.

At the age of 29, Jaber skillfully delved into his own life experiences and the hardships faced by Lebanon over the past three years in "Anxious in Beirut".

The journeyThe journey of the film began when Zakaria started filming the 2019 Lebanese revolution on a daily basis. Recognizing the potential, Jumana, a Jordanian producer, suggested elevating the documentation into a full-fledged documentary. The duo collaborated on writing the initial script and successfully secured a co-production grant from Al Jazeera's documentary fund.



Subsequently, Al Jazeera English joined the project and commissioned the film for their Witness strand. Additionally, 15L, a Spanish production house, provided crucial assistance as minor producers. The film gained significant recognition when it was pitched at the MEDIMED Market.

Finally, Filmotor, a distribution and sales company based in Prague, joined the team to manage the global distribution and festival services for the film.

Following a captivating national premiere at the "Ecran Du Reel" film festival in Beirut and its international premiere where it received the Goblet Award, "Anxious in Beirut" will next be showcased at its Northern American premiere during the "Maine International Film Festival."

It will then have its Arab Premiere at the Arab Film Festival.


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