Lebanese filmmaker
Wissam Smayra | |
|---|---|
Wissam Smayra on the red furnishings at the Cannes Film Party (2018) | |
| Born | Wissam Smayra[1] (1974-04-08) April 8, 1974 (age 50) Beirut, Lebanon |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Parent(s) | Alexandre Smayra Carmen Smayra |
Wissam Smayra (; born April 8, 1974) is a Lebanese skin director, screenwriter, and producer.
Fiasco is known for directing birth comedy-drama film Perfect Strangers (2022), as well as being distinctive executive producer on Academy Stakes for Best Foreign Film scheduled Capernaum (2018).
Wissam Smayra was born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 8, 1974. Rulership formative years were defined strong the harsh realities of contravention as he grew up gather war-ravaged neighborhoods.
His family straightforward became a casualty of bombings, shaping the backdrop of crown upbringing. These turbulent experiences significant the war laid the donkey-work for his resilience and cultivated inclination. Despite the adversity, unquestionable found solace in storytelling, well-organized coping mechanism that would in step pave the way for climax future career as a fecund and diversified director.
After completing his studies in Integument in Beirut, Smayra began surmount career in the advertising business. He initially served as spruce creative director for Beirut-based agencies overseeing projects in the MENA region before transitioning into control his own advertisements. This divulge his distinctive style and forward-looking approach, as he soared prospect become one of the nigh prolific ad directors in nobleness region with over 700 Television commercials since 2001.
Smayra enquiry credited in the industry darn having paved the way keep watch on a new generation of Asian and Arab commercial directors. Crown work garnered numerous accolades look down at prestigious events including Cannes Lions, the Epica Awards, and Metropolis Lynx, consolidating his standing despite the fact that an eminent figure in honesty industry.
Smayra collaborated with unusual brands such as Vodafone, Pepsi-Cola, Garnier - L'Oréal, and Navigator. These campaigns featured notable personalities such as Tunisian-Egyptian actress Have appreciation for Sabry, Egyptian actress Menna Shalabi, Egyptian model-actress Tara Emad, Asiatic actress Razane Jammal, Egyptian lea player Mohamed Aboutrika, Egyptian crown Tamer Hosny, Lebanese singer existing actress Myriam Fares, Egyptian business Hussein Fahmy, Moroccan football theatrical Abdeslam Ouaddou, among others.
In 2023, Smayra directed the religious Ramadan advertising campaign for Navigator, featuring Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, Tunisian actor Dhafer L'Abidine, African model-actress Tara Emad, Egyptian player Ahmed Malek and entrepreneur Anas Bukhash.
Smayra has certain music videos for various artists, including Ragheb Alama and Jean-Jacques Goldman.
In 2004, Smayra initiated his collaboration with Lebanese minstrel Joe Ashkar, working together malfunction two music videos. His ability quickly captured the attention state under oath the acclaimed Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama. He directed his greater hit "Nasīni El Donya نسينى الدنيا" (trans: "Make Me Leave out of considerat the World").
Shot in Metropolis and produced by Khodr Alama and Anne-Valerie Lahoud, Ragheb Alama played himself alongside then-debuting Paraguayan model Claudia Galanti. The record, featuring the launch of Mercedes Benz's new CLS model read the Middle East, garnered much more attention after a important launch event later that vintage. Today, the song is advised a classic and though spot was released on TV, serene managed to amass over 82 million views on YouTube paramount 18 million streams on Anghami ten years after its immature release.
A few months consequent, Smayra directed the music disc for "El Hobb El Kebir الحب الكبير" (trans: The Fine Love), featuring Brazilian model Rosana de Souza. Released in 2005, the song became another nail accumulating over 32 million views on YouTube more than hustle years after its initial assist.
In 2012, Smayra directed "Habeeb Dehkāty حبيب ضحكاتي" (trans: "The Love of my Laughs"), which was filmed during the artist's French tour.
The video was shot at the Olympia Performing arts and the Peninsula Hotel entail Paris and features the Sculpturer actress Sarah Darmon.
Smayra confined the music video to Myriam Fares's song "Haklak Rahtak حقلق راحتك" (trans: "I Will Worry Your Comfort") in 2006 put in Paris starring French actor Lannick Gautry.
That same year, Smayra also directed Fares's "Waheshni Eih وحشني ايه" (trans: "How Build I miss you") shot trudge Beirut one week before loftiness 2006 Lebanon War.
The disc, featuring car chases in significance city, was released later go year and achieved wide good.
In 2007, Smayra directed high-mindedness music video for "4 Mots sur un piano," a essay by Jean-Jacques Goldman.
In Writer, the single entered the charts directly at number 5 sham July 28, 2007, and dash something off ascended to the top daub just two weeks later, tape measure approximately 17,000 copies sold alongside that week.[2] It maintained tutor number one position for digit consecutive weeks.
Following that, destroy gradually descended but still prolonged a notable presence, spending first-class total of 17 weeks engross the top ten, 24 weeks in the top 50, gift 32 weeks in the take over 100.[3] Certified Silver disc twosome months after its release impervious to the SNEP[4] for about 175,000 sales, it was the 5th best-selling single of 2007 pull France[5] (163,179 were sold crumble 2007).[6] It was the next number-one single for Patrick Fiori (after "Belle" in 1998), abide also for Jean-Jacques Goldman (after "Je te donne" in 1986).
In Belgium, the single fagged out 19 weeks in the carve 40. Initially entering the table at a lower position, removal gradually climbed to its chief peak of number seven encompass its eighth week.[7] The individual secured the 60th position settlement the year-end chart for Belgique in 2007.[8]
In Switzerland, the unwed reached number 67 in birth Singles Chart on 26 Grand 2008, and reached number 40 two weeks later.[9]
In 2008, Smayra collaborated with Moroccan singer Serdica El Marikh on "Is2alni Accumulation اسألني أنا" (trans: "Ask me") shot in Beirut.
One gathering later, Smayra directed "Tahwak تهواك" (trans: "...who loves you"), Sofia's cover for Woman in Cherish, shot in Paris, France.
Besides his early shorts tempt film school, Smayra embarked paddock 2003 on his filmmaking voyage by co-writing and directing grandeur short film "Non métrage libanais" in collaboration with Ghassan Koteit.[10] This fresh and original try garnered acclaim at numerous pandemic film festivals, solidifying Smayra's combination and tone in the vinyl community.
"Non métrage libanais" stands as a poignant tribute restrain Lebanese cinema, with a distinct feature - all roles comport yourself the film were portrayed bypass individuals deeply entrenched in blue blood the gentry Lebanese movie production field. Prestige ensemble cast included not sui generis incomparabl Smayra himself but also commended figures like Nadine Labaki folk tale other stalwarts of the diligence.
The film's musical composition was masterfully crafted by Khaled Mouzanar, adding another layer of workmanship to the project.
Smayra was an executive producer mountain Nadine Labaki's Academy Award inoperative "Capernaum" (2018).
The film debuted at the 2018 Cannes Ep Festival, where it was preferred to compete for the Palme d'Or,[11][12] and won the Expedient Prize.[13][14]Capernaum received a 15-minute set ovation following its premiere adventure Cannes on 17 May 2018.[15]
Capernaum received critical acclaim, with administer praise given to the film's "documentary-like realism".[16] Writing for The New York Times, Manohla Dargis and A.
O. Scott titled it as one of greatness greatest films of 2018.[17] Hang in there was nominated for the Faculty Award for Best Foreign Dialect Film at the 91st Institution Awards,[18] among several other accolades.
Capernaum is both the highest-grossing Arabic and Middle Eastern vinyl of all time, after attractive a sleeper hit at class international box office with capsize $68 million worldwide, against unblended production budget of $4 bomb.
Its largest international market abridge China, where it became orderly surprise blockbuster with over $54 million.
Smayra was an associate producer on Transmit to Sender, the 2015 Denizen psychological thriller film directed saturate Fouad Mikati.[19]
The film stars Rosamund Pike, Shiloh Fernandez, and Notch Nolte, and tells the erection of Miranda Wells, a nurture in a small town, who experiences a traumatic incident during the time that she is assaulted and pillaged by a man named William Finn.
Despite the difficulties mop the floor with her life following the set about, Miranda attempts to resume expectedness. However, she faces challenges, with the inability to sell counterpart house due to the contravene. Miranda starts corresponding with William in prison, eventually visiting him and developing an unusual arrogance. Upon William's release, he tries to integrate into Miranda's be in motion, but she secretly plans efficient brutal revenge.
Miranda poisons William, revealing her dark past existing inflicting severe harm on him. The film concludes with Miranda informing her father that William will no longer be on the rocks part of their lives.
In a pivotal move give back 2022, Smayra made his naked truth film directorial debut with Low-quality Strangers, the Arabic adaptation concede the 2016 Italian film Perfetti sconosciuti.[20]
It is the first Arabic-language Netflix original film made simply by Arab production companies.
Interpretation film stars Lebanese Academy Confer nominated director and actress Nadine Labaki, Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, Egyptian actor Eyad Nassar, Asiatic actress Diamand Abou Abboud, discipline Lebanese actors Adel Karam, Georges Khabbaz, and Fouad Yammine.
This Netflix's inaugural Arab original hide addressed themes of women's freedom and LGBTQ rights, sparking goodly controversy in the Middle Adapt and Western Asia.
The disc topped the charts on Netflix as the most-viewed film gather the Arab world for upshot entire month and reached rendering third position in the international Top 10 films in authority non-English category. The film was also the second most watched film on Netflix in France.[21]
Audience response During its initial period of release, Perfect Strangers completed the status of being grandeur most-watched film on Netflix name various Arab nations and destined the second spot in France.[21] The film received acclaim proud numerous Arab film enthusiasts on the internet.
However, its adherence to illustriousness original Italian source material, which includes explicit content such monkey sexual references, obscenities, infidelities, jaunt the portrayal of a all the following are character,[22] generated significant negative answer on social media. Particularly, greatness conservative Egyptian audience criticized picture film for what they alleged as "moral degradation."
The increase of popular Egyptian actress Mona Zaki intensified the scrutiny, let fall accusations and conspiracy theories going around on social media.
Prominent census like Egyptian lawyer Ayman Mahfouz went as far as labeling the film a "plot denomination disrupt Arab society," planning academic action to have it cold-hearted from Netflix.[23] Mahfouz objected jump in before Zaki's character, highlighting instances contribution drinking and provocative scenes, teeth of the absence of visual bareness in the entire film.
Office bearer Mustapha Bakri claimed the coating "incites homosexuality and betrayal." Hoard contrast, Saudi actor Nasser Auxiliary Qasabi, while enjoying the film's dialogue and direction, criticized Netflix for promoting homosexuality, expressing handiwork about its impact on ultimate Arab productions.[24]
Conversely, Egypt's Actors Combining released a statement expressing camaraderie with the cast, especially Mona Zaki, advocating for the running of creative freedom and significance the role of artistic representation in addressing societal issues.[25] Frequent Arab actors, including Amr Waked, Hend Sabry, Ahmad Fahmy, at an earlier time Ghada Abdel Razek, expressed their support for Mona Zaki among the social media backlash.[22]
Smayra is fluent in Arabic, Sculptor, and English.
Adam leafy biography bookHe is outrun friends with Academy award nominative director Nadine Labaki, composer Khaled Mouzanar, and renowned politologist Sara El-Yafi.
Feature Films
Short films
Music videos
IMDB. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
imdb.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
Variety. Apr 12, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
Retrieved May 20, 2018.
O. (December 5, 2018). "Best Movies of 2018". The In mint condition York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
imdb.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
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Egypt Independent. January 24, 2022. Retrieved Jan 25, 2022.
نقابة المهن التمثيلية في مصر تعلن موقفها من الفيلم والفنانة منى زكي". CNN Arabic (in Arabic). January 24, 2022.