It’s rare to catch a glimpse of war through the eyes of ordinary people determined to cling on to the simple routines of life. The short films in this programme were shot from the day Israel began its assault on Lebanon in July 2006 up until a few months ago. They eschew the easy choice of depicting the grand sweep of violence seen on the news to reflect instead on personal stories: intimate portrayals of friends, neighbours and strangers surviving the upheaval, agony and tedium of war. The selection was co-programmed by ArteEast curator Rasha Salti.
Antonia Carver

UK Premiere
To the Lebanese Citizens
Lebanon
Arabic dialogue with English subtitles
Colour/Digibeta/4 x 3/2 min

On July 21, 2006, Israel began intercepting Beirut’s Voice of the People radio station to air messages to the Lebanese people. Artist Ali Cherri tuned in, while filming the ships evacuating foreigners from the window of his Beirut apartment.

Director: Ali Cherri Producer: Ali Cherri Editor: Ali Cherri DoP: Ali Cherri

UK Distributor: ArteEast, 192 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11225, USA. tel: +1 718 282 5938 fax: +1 718 282 5939
email: filminfo@arteeast.org 

Production Company:  tel: +961 3 588 335 email: ali_cherry@hotmail.com

Dailies of the War
Lebanon
Arabic dialogue with English subtitles
Colour/Digibeta/4 x 3/30 min

A series of vignettes of how ordinary Lebanese citizens negotiated their everyday lives during the war – from a streetcleaner in Beirut’s deserted central square to children from the south taking refuge in schools.

Director: Rania Stephan Producer: Rania Stephan Editor: Rania Stephan DoP: Rania Stephan

UK Distributor: ArteEast, 192 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11225, USA. tel: +1 718 282 5938 fax: +1 718 282 5939
email: filminfo@arteeast.org 

Production Company:  tel: +961 304 8894 email: ranrounjoun@yahoo.fr

UK Premiere
Slippage
Lebanon
No dialogue
Colour/Digibeta/4 x 3/12 min

A reflection on the aftermath of the war: is it time to abandon Beirut, now that it has abandoned itself?

Director: Ali Cherri Editor: Ali Cherri DoP: Ali Cherri

UK Distributor: ArteEast, 192 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11225, USA. tel: +1 718 282 5938 fax: +1 718 282 5939
email: filminfo@arteeast.org 

Production Company: Ashkal Alwan, P.O. Box 175-268, Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon. tel: +961 1 360 251 fax: +961 1 360 251
email: info@ashkalalwan.org
web: www.ashkalalwan.org

UK Premiere
In Between
Lebanon
Arabic dialogue with English subtitles
B&W/Digibeta/4 x 3/10 min

A set of honest snapshot interviews with Beirutis about their experiences of the summer of 2006.

Director: Nadine Ghanem Editor: Nadine Ghanem  DoP: Nadine Ghanem  Music: Tango al Amal/Nour al Hoda

UK Distributor: ArteEast, 192 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11225, USA. tel: +1 718 282 5938 fax: +1 718 282 5939
email: filminfo@arteeast.org 

Production Company: Ashkal Alwan, P.O. Box 175-268, Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon. tel: +961 1 360 251 fax: +961 1 360 251
email: info@ashkalalwan.org
web: www.ashkalalwan.org

Breaking News
Lebanon
Arabic dialogue with English subtitles
Colour/Digibeta/4 x 3/10 min

An artist’s look at how the lived experience of a war is played out through the media.

Director: Hisham Jaber Producer: Hisham Jaber Editor: Hisham Jaber

UK Distributor: ArteEast, 192 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11225, USA. tel: +1 718 282 5938 fax: +1 718 282 5939
email: filminfo@arteeast.org 

Production Company: Ashkal Alwan, P.O. Box 175-268, Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon. tel: +961 1 360 251 fax: +961 1 360 251
email: info@ashkalalwan.org
web: www.ashkalalwan.org