Emilio Eid, founder and director of the Lebanese Movie Awards. (Credit: Michel Sayegh)
“It’s quite a challenge for me to discuss my favorite films this year — they’re all exceptional. Even the jury members are joking about the difficulty they’ll face in making a decision.” Emilio Eid, the founder, and director of the Lebanese Movie Awards, told L’Orient-Le Jour.
After a three-year absence, the Lebanese Movie Awards (LMAs) are returning for their 8th edition, scheduled to take place at the Casino du Liban on July 6. The event aims to make up for the missed years in the world of cinema.
The nominations encompass films released between September 2020 and September 2022, giving due recognition to the remarkable works produced during that period.
As the founder of Lebanon’s first competition of this nature, Eid has carefully selected nine feature films that truly exemplify the essence of the LMAs. Among the notable nominations are “Memory Box,” “Costa Brava,” “Lebanon” and “All This Victory.”
The reunion of Lebanese film actors on the stage of the Lebanese Movie Awards. (Credit: DR)
On June 15, the 15 members of the jury concluded their voting process. The clear favorite among them was “Broken Keys” (known as “Le dernier piano” in French), directed by Lebanese filmmaker Jimmy Keyrouz, which received a remarkable 12 nominations, securing recognition in every category.
This film had already earned its place in the prestigious Cannes selection in 2020, further solidifying its reputation.
Eid elaborates on the distinctive aspect of this competition in Lebanon, emphasizing their intention to acknowledge and honor the entire film team, with special emphasis on the technicians.
“No aspect is overlooked, be it makeup, set design, costumes, sound or music — everyone’s contribution is recognized at the LMAs,” he said.
“It serves as a means for individuals in the Lebanese film industry to unite and provide mutual support, while also creating a space to foster professional connections,” Eid further explained, underscoring the importance of solidarity and networking within the industry.
The ceremony revolves around two central themes: celebration and fraternity. It is anticipated that around 600 attendees, all professionals from the industry, will gather to participate in this event.
Born of passion
“At the age of 16, while watching the Oscars, I couldn’t help but wonder why there wasn’t a grand festival dedicated to Lebanese cinema,” Eid, a former film student, said. “That’s when the idea to create the LMAs took root.”
French actress Julie Gayet on the red carpet of the Lebanese Movie Awards, in 2019. (Credit: DR)
The inception of this illustrious event was driven by a combination of limited financial resources and an unwavering passion for the world of cinema. This explains the LMA’s strong commitment to inclusivity, particularly toward independent films.
Among the nine films selected in the feature film category, three belong to the realm of independent filmmaking: “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living” by George Peter Barbari, “A State of Agitation” by Elie Khalifeh, and “Beirut Hold’em” by Michel Kammoun. Not to mention the numerous nominations in the short film and documentary categories.
Looking ahead, Eid shared his plans for the upcoming year, revealing that a new category will be introduced to recognize university films. This initiative aims to provide encouragement and support for amateur filmmakers, fostering their growth and development within the industry.
While the production of films by Lebanese directors is on the rise, a significant challenge remains in the distribution of these films within Lebanon, particularly for independent productions. Eid recognized this issue and highlighted the additional difficulties faced by independent filmmakers.
According to him, the primary driving force behind the event is not financial gain. “The LMAs don’t generate substantial revenue. What keeps me motivated is my passion for cinema and the desire to contribute positively to this country,” he said, underlining his deep-rooted commitment to the industry and the nation.
To ensure broader accessibility, the LMAs ceremony will be streamed live on July 6 at 7 p.m. on the YouTube channel @Lbmovieawards, enabling viewers from around the world to join in and experience the event.
Here is the list of nominees for various categories at the Lebanese Movie Awards:
Best Lebanese Film:
“1982” directed by Oualid Mouannes
“A State of Agitation” directed by Elie Khalifé
“All This Victory” directed by Ahmad Ghossein
“Beirut Hold’em” directed by Michel Kammoun
“Broken Keys” directed by Jimmy Keyrouz
“Costa Brava, Lebanon” directed by Mounia Akl
“Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living” directed by George Peter Barbari
“Memory Box” directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige
“The Sea Ahead” directed by Ely Dagher
Best Actor:
Adel Chahine in “All This Victory”
Tarek Yaacoub in “Broken Keys”
Saleh Bakri in “Costa Brava, Lebanon”
Roger Azar in “The Sea Ahead”
Best Actress:
Sahar Minkara in “All This Victory”
Rola Beksmati in “Broken Keys”
Nadine Labaki in “Costa Brava, Lebanon”
Manal Issa in “The Sea Ahead”
Best Director:
Oualid Mouannes for “1982”
Ahmad Ghossein for “All This Victory”
Jimmy Keyrouz for “Broken Keys”
Georges Peter Barbari for “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living”
Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige for “Memory Box”
Best Screenplay:
Elie Khalife for “A State of Agitation”
Ahmad Ghossein, Abla Khoury, Syllas Twoumerkas for “All This Victory”
Jimmy Keyrouz for “Broken Keys”
Georges Peter Barbari for “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living”
Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige, Gaelle Macé for “Memory Box”
Best Cinematography:
Shadi Shaaban for “All This Victory”
Céline Bozon for “Beirut Hold'em”
Joe Saadeh for “Broken Keys”
Joe Saadeh for “Costa Brava, Lebanon”
Karim Ghorayeb for “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living”
Josée Deshaies for “Memory Box”
Best Editing:
Sandra Fatte for “A State of Agitation”
Giannis Halkiadakis for “All This Victory”
Yves Beloniak, Maria Malek for “Broken Keys”
Cyril Aris, Carlos Marques-Marcet for “Costa Brava, Lebanon”
Tina Baz for “Memory Box”
Best Film Music:
Khyam Allami for “All This Victory”
Cynthia Zaven for “Beirut Hold'em”
Gabriel Yared for “Broken Keys”
Fadi Tabbal for “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living”
Charbel Haber, Radwan Moumeh for “Memory Box”
Best Sound Editing:
Rana Eid for “1982”
Rana Eid for “All This Victory”
Chadi Roukoz, Vincent Hazard for “Broken Keys”
Cedric Kayem for “Death of a Virgin and the Sin of Not Living”
Rana Eid for “Memory Box”
Best Costume:
Wael Boutros for “1982”
Lara Mae Khamis for “Broken Keys”
Beatrice Harb for “Costa Brava, Lebanon”
Lara Mae Khamis for “Memory Box”
Best Hair and Makeup:
Nader Sidani, Roula Zahar, Claudine Choueiri for “1982”
Roula Zahar, Nader Sidani for “Broken Keys”
Roula Zahar, Nader Sidani for “Memory Box”
Best Set Design:
César el-Hayeck for “1982”
Issa Kandil for “Broken Keys”
Issa Kandil, Thomas Bremer for “Costa Brava, Lebanon”
Maia al-Khoury for “Memory Box”
Best Short Film:
Layal Jomaa for “Disconnected”
Rakan Mayasi for “Trumpets in the Sky”
Dania Bdeir for “Warsha”
Best Documentary Film:
Selim Mourad for “Agate Mousse”
Zeina Daccache for “The Blue Inmates”
Wissam Tanios for “We Are from There”
The members of the LMAs 2023 jury are:
1. Pierre Sarraf
2. Emile Chahine
3. Lara Saba
4. Béchara Atallah
5. Diala Kachmar
6. Christopher Aoun
7. Brahim Samaha
8. Nadia Tabbara
9. Elias Chahine
10. Darine Hamzé
11. Chantal Fischer
12. Nada Bou Farhat
13. Diamand Bou Abboud
14. Cynthia Choucair
15. Hady Zaccak
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour. Translation by Sahar Ghoussoub.
Correction: A previous version of this article erroneously stated that "The Sea Ahead" was directed by Roger Azar. The director was, in fact, Ely Dagher.
