Hosted by Beirut DC, in cooperation with the HEINRICH-BÖLL-Stiftung, Beirut office – Middle east, Local impact Lab بالعربي Lebanon – Syria is taking place from the 17th and till the 20th of June 2022.
For the past three years, we have been working hard to catalyze a burgeoning Narrative Shift Ecosystem in the Arab region that can harness the power of Arab independent cinema to shed necessary light on the defining social, environmental, and political causes of our present time.
After a series of successful regional and local labs, local Impact Lab بالعربي Lebanon-Syria brings together 16 participants from filmmaking and civil society to reimagine radical collaborations, forge alliances, and join the next generation of Arab Impact Producers.
Over four immersive days, the lab will introduce a diversity of professionals from both countries to all of the tools they need to run Impact Campaigns and even undertake careers as Impact Producers. They will dissect effective strategies for using independent film as a tool for social change and collectively brainstorm to unleash the potential of the two selected documentaries from Lebanon and Syria.
Our aim is for filmmakers to walk away with new ideas and frameworks to produce their films, reach their respective audiences, and bring those ideas back to their communities. And for civil society actors to reimagine their advocacy and impact work by unleashing the power of independent film to change hearts and minds and affect lived realities.
Activist, Founder of Malfa Centre of Arts and Culture • Randa Hemo • Syria
Journalist • Raneen AlOmar • Lebanon
Dancer • Reneh • Lebanon
Human Rights Officers • Samira Koujouk • Lebanon
Item description • Souha Hassan • Syria
Filmmaker • Yassin Ali AlMsalakhk • Syria
Campaigner • Ameenah Sawan • Syria
Filmmaker – 2D Animator • Mohamed Beiruty • Syria
Sound Engineer • Lea Haddad • Lebanon
Film Projects
I am One of them •
Turkey, France, Germany
Director •
Abdullah Alhakwati
Producer •
Rasha AlTabshi
Impact Producer •
Nabih Mstreih
Graphic Designer •
Salim Joweid
The documentary tells the story of a group of individuals from different backgrounds, who met during the 2011 protests in Syria to defend basic human values within a civil movement, and developed strong bonds over time. Every character will tell his/her story reflecting the events of 10 years in Syria.
The film captures the story of a country where “people wanted life” but a dictator regime responded with accusations of treason, detention, torture, death, siege, bombardment and exile.
Would characters give up and hopelessly accept reality or would they go on with their demands for a better life with dignity and freedoms?
The Mindful Lebanese •
Lebanon
Director • Rania Itani
The film interviews three main Lebanese characters from different generations and their stories with healing from traumas they lived through in Lebanon. It aims at spreading awareness on the importance of investing in mental health for a better future in Lebanon and campaigns for urging people to seek that help where it is provided.
