Around Aline Kamakian, from left to right, Robert Scott, Nagham Abboud, and Kieran Hodges. (Photo provided by the chef)
"We won gold, we won gold!" exclaimed Aline Kamakian upon hearing the announcement Thursday night at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards that the documentary highlighting her humanitarian work for Lebanon had taken home the top prize. Kamakian, both a chef and entrepreneur, is a member of the Chef Corps of the NGO World Central Kitchen (WCK). Her commitment began after the double explosion at the Port of Beirut in 2020 and continues amid the wars that for three years have battered Lebanon and left many residents of southern Lebanon displaced and deprived of their livelihood.
Entitled "Feeding Hope — Chef Aline’s Story" and filmed in December 2025, the documentary by Kieran Hodges for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has just won gold as well as the Best Directing prize at Cannes as part of these awards, which honor the world’s best corporate films, online media, and documentaries.
The central figure of this testimonial documentary is the Lebanese chef of Armenian descent, who strives, in a battered Lebanon, to feed and — above all — unite people. "This recognition means so much more to me than just a prize. It’s recognition for Lebanon, our small country, and for all the stories that are still unfolding there. It’s also a tremendous source of pride to see our film stand out among more than 1,000 documentaries from around the world. But above all, it’s recognition of the chef’s mission, which goes far beyond cooking and the profession itself: to be there when we are needed most, to bring people together, to restore a sense of dignity and hope, and to care for others through a meal," she told L’Orient-Le Jour, before thanking the director, Kieran Hodges, and producer Nagham Abboud.
The short film stood out among a selection of corporate films, documentaries, branded content, and TV productions from across the globe, spread across 63 categories, with 253 productions from 38 countries. It spotlights the work of World Central Kitchen, which was officially named the 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity laureate for its exceptional commitment to distributing meals to people affected by humanitarian crises and natural disasters worldwide. Aline Kamakian is featured as a key member of their Chef Corps in Lebanon and Armenia.
'Quiet and courageous acts of fraternity'
"When we discovered Chef Aline’s story through World Central Kitchen, we immediately sensed there was a powerful, yet untold, story just waiting to be revealed," director Kieran Hodges told L’Orient-Le Jour. "The film was the result of amazing teamwork, and sharing it with the world has been incredibly rewarding. To see it win gold at Cannes, to receive a Black Dolphin for best direction, and to attend the awards ceremony with Chef Aline in person will remain an unforgettable moment for us all. She truly is one of a kind!"
The "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity," which produced the documentary, underscored: "This recognition means a great deal to us. Chef Aline embodies exactly what the award seeks to honor and shine a light on: quiet and courageous acts of human fraternity accomplished in the hardest places by people who choose to be there for others. To see this story take the international stage at Cannes is exactly the kind of impact we hoped our collaboration could achieve."
To watch the documentary: https://f.io/5k57aKAx
Details for "Feeding Hope - Chef Aline’s Story"
Client: Zayed Award for Human Fraternity
Production: Film By People
Director: Kieran Hodges
Art direction: Dan Jobson
Producer: Nagham Abboud
Client producers: Khadija Kabli, Emily Judd
Director of photography: Robert Scott
Editing: Alex Kirby
This article originally appeared in French on L'Orient-Le Jour.
