• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • TV/Radio Deals
  • Film partnerships
  • New appointments
  • Production
  • TV Channels
Animation gives life to Lebanese mystery

Animation gives life to Lebanese mystery

September 17, 2012
Al Arabiya relaunches with brand new look this Ramadan

Al Arabiya Network officially relocates to Riyadh

July 20, 2025
Ad 1
Atlas Space Operations activates new ground station in Rwanda

Atlas Space Operations activates new ground station in Rwanda

July 20, 2025
Final Cut in Venice selects eight work-in-progress films for 13th edition

Final Cut in Venice selects eight work-in-progress films for 13th edition

July 20, 2025
Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival

Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival

July 19, 2025
Riyadh set to host second annual Film Music Festival with global composers

Riyadh set to host second annual Film Music Festival with global composers

July 18, 2025
Hitomi Broadcast to demonstrates MatchBox Everywhere at IBC

Hitomi Broadcast to demonstrates MatchBox Everywhere at IBC

July 18, 2025
Orange Jordan signs deal with StarLink to boost digital transformation

Orange Jordan signs deal with StarLink to boost digital transformation

July 18, 2025
Zawya Cinema brings Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise’ to Egyptian screens

Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise’ is set to screen in Ethiopia

July 18, 2025
Netflix achieves record growth with 18.9m new subscribers in Q4

Netflix surpasses expectations in Q2, raises full-year forecasts

July 18, 2025
Dalet to demo media workflows and content integrity tools at IBC

Dalet to demo media workflows and content integrity tools at IBC

July 18, 2025
Glensound to debut series of audio products at IBC 2025

Glensound to debut series of audio products at IBC 2025

July 18, 2025
Kratos and Intelsat demonstrate 5G NTN over GEO

Kratos and Intelsat demonstrate 5G NTN over GEO

July 18, 2025
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Archive
  • Directory
  • Contact
Sunday, July 20, 2025
  • Login
BroadcastPro ME
  • News
    • All
    • Analyst Reports
    • AV
    • Cinema Theatres
    • Esports
    • Film partnerships
    • International News
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • New appointments
    • OTT/Video Streaming
    • Podcasting
    • Production
    • Satellite/Comms
    • TV/Radio Deals
    Al Arabiya relaunches with brand new look this Ramadan

    Al Arabiya Network officially relocates to Riyadh

    Atlas Space Operations activates new ground station in Rwanda

    Atlas Space Operations activates new ground station in Rwanda

    Final Cut in Venice selects eight work-in-progress films for 13th edition

    Final Cut in Venice selects eight work-in-progress films for 13th edition

    Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival

    Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival

    Riyadh set to host second annual Film Music Festival with global composers

    Riyadh set to host second annual Film Music Festival with global composers

    Orange Jordan signs deal with StarLink to boost digital transformation

    Orange Jordan signs deal with StarLink to boost digital transformation

    Zawya Cinema brings Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise’ to Egyptian screens

    Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise’ is set to screen in Ethiopia

    Netflix achieves record growth with 18.9m new subscribers in Q4

    Netflix surpasses expectations in Q2, raises full-year forecasts

    Kratos and Intelsat demonstrate 5G NTN over GEO

    Kratos and Intelsat demonstrate 5G NTN over GEO

    Kuwaiti creators reimagine Kuwait city as a cyberpunk metropolis with Nvidia

    Kuwaiti creators reimagine Kuwait city as a cyberpunk metropolis with Nvidia

    Trending Tags

    • broadcast
    • MENA broadcast
    • ConnecTech2019
  • Tech Features
    • All
    • CASE STUDIES
    • New Media
    • REVIEWS
    • TV/Radio Deals
    • Updates from FOMEX
    • Virtual Production Series
    Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

    Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

    Playing to win

    Playing to win

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The expanding role of AI in broadcast

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

    Trending Tags

    • Videos
      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

      Reema Omari

      Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

      Mustafa Afifi

      Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

      Don

      ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

      KSASummit

      Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

    • Opinion
      Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

      Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

      Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

      Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

      Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

      Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

    • Interviews
      • All
      • Lounge
      Sand, sweat and high stakes

      Sand, sweat and high stakes

      All eyes on AIUIa

      All eyes on AIUIa

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      UAE Pro League flips the field

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Bringing the wild to the Middle East

      Shades of success

      Shades of success

      Navigating the news wave

      Navigating the news wave

    • Products
    • Magazine Archive
      • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
      • PRO Directory
    • Events
      • News from Events
      • Upcoming Events
      DICM

      DICM

      IBC Show

      IBC 2025

      MPTS

      CABSAT2025

      CABSAT2025

      NAB Show

    No Result
    View All Result
    BroadcastPro ME
    • News
      • All
      • Analyst Reports
      • AV
      • Cinema Theatres
      • Esports
      • Film partnerships
      • International News
      • Mergers/Acquisitions
      • New appointments
      • OTT/Video Streaming
      • Podcasting
      • Production
      • Satellite/Comms
      • TV/Radio Deals
      Al Arabiya relaunches with brand new look this Ramadan

      Al Arabiya Network officially relocates to Riyadh

      Atlas Space Operations activates new ground station in Rwanda

      Atlas Space Operations activates new ground station in Rwanda

      Final Cut in Venice selects eight work-in-progress films for 13th edition

      Final Cut in Venice selects eight work-in-progress films for 13th edition

      Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival

      Four MAD films to compete at Durban International Film Festival

      Riyadh set to host second annual Film Music Festival with global composers

      Riyadh set to host second annual Film Music Festival with global composers

      Orange Jordan signs deal with StarLink to boost digital transformation

      Orange Jordan signs deal with StarLink to boost digital transformation

      Zawya Cinema brings Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise’ to Egyptian screens

      Somali film ‘The Village Next to Paradise’ is set to screen in Ethiopia

      Netflix achieves record growth with 18.9m new subscribers in Q4

      Netflix surpasses expectations in Q2, raises full-year forecasts

      Kratos and Intelsat demonstrate 5G NTN over GEO

      Kratos and Intelsat demonstrate 5G NTN over GEO

      Kuwaiti creators reimagine Kuwait city as a cyberpunk metropolis with Nvidia

      Kuwaiti creators reimagine Kuwait city as a cyberpunk metropolis with Nvidia

      Trending Tags

      • broadcast
      • MENA broadcast
      • ConnecTech2019
    • Tech Features
      • All
      • CASE STUDIES
      • New Media
      • REVIEWS
      • TV/Radio Deals
      • Updates from FOMEX
      • Virtual Production Series
      Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

      Breaking free from the hardware cycle: Cloud collaboration in post-production

      Playing to win

      Playing to win

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The expanding role of AI in broadcast

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      The power of podcasts and audio streaming in MENA

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      Tech strategies for an evolving modern MENA media ecosystem

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part IV

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part III

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part II

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Transforming the entertainment experience with tech

      Trending Tags

      • Videos
        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        FOR-A’s award-winning HVS-Q12: A quantum leap in switcher design

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Ignacio Gonzalez-Nuñez on Eutelsat’s new offering and market leadership

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Francesco Cataldo on iKO Media Group’s CABSAT showcase and broadcast trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Deepraj Sandhar on Ross Video’s Middle East growth and broadcast tech trends

        Reema Omari

        Reema Omari on Universal Satcom’s growth and connectivity solutions

        Mustafa Afifi

        Mustafa Afifi of Rivada Space on Outernet’s impact in the Middle East

        Don

        ST Engineering iDirect CEO Don Claussen on Mideast ties and satellite strategy

        KSASummit

        Transforming Arabic Content: Studios, Producers and Regional Impact

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

        Bringing Real-Time Audience Insights to Linear Broadcast TV – A First and Exclusive

      • Opinion
        Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

        Survival of the Smartest: Cloud Playout as a Strategic Weapon

        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        Bridging the Latency Gap with Broadcast in a Streaming World

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        YouTube in Ramadan: The silent giant

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Sport’s Growing Grip on MENA Media

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        MEASA’s media and communications innovations set new benchmarks beyond regional boundaries

        Integrate ME 2023 brings its inaugural edition to successful conclusion

        Empowering the next generation of content creation and live broadcasting with AV PRO

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Decoding the Ramadan Drama Phenomenon: What Makes a Winner?

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Reviving cultural identity through native storytelling in Abu Dhabi

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Why it’s game on for broadcasters of live sport

        Evision’s transformation proves that business acumen and passion drive success

        Saudi Arabia emerges as the epicentre of Media & Entertainment in 2025

      • Interviews
        • All
        • Lounge
        Sand, sweat and high stakes

        Sand, sweat and high stakes

        All eyes on AIUIa

        All eyes on AIUIa

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Grass Valley scales up with software and IP workflows

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        Breaking barriers, building futures: The new face of IABM

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        New Leadership, Same Strategy, Sharpened Focus

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        Creating Captain Shedeed: A superhero with Arab roots

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        UAE Pro League flips the field

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Bringing the wild to the Middle East

        Shades of success

        Shades of success

        Navigating the news wave

        Navigating the news wave

      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events
        • News from Events
        • Upcoming Events
        DICM

        DICM

        IBC Show

        IBC 2025

        MPTS

        CABSAT2025

        CABSAT2025

        NAB Show

      No Result
      View All Result
      BroadcastPro ME
      No Result
      View All Result
      AMT Ad ibc Ad
      Home Content Creation Animation

      Animation gives life to Lebanese mystery

      Staff Writer by Staff Writer
      September 17, 2012
      in Animation, Content Creation, Production Features
      ShareTweetPostEmail

      Al Jazeera Documentary has produced a new hard-hitting and innovative production, The Imam and the Colonel, using 2D and 3D animation. The documentary investigates the disappearance of charismatic Lebanese cleric, Imam Musa al-Sadr and its possible connection to ex-Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. BroadcastPro ME’s Hayley Doyle catches up with the film’s producer and director, […]

      Abdallah El Binni.

      Al Jazeera Documentary has produced a new hard-hitting and innovative production, The Imam and the Colonel, using 2D and 3D animation. The documentary investigates the disappearance of charismatic Lebanese cleric, Imam Musa al-Sadr and its possible connection to ex-Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. BroadcastPro ME’s Hayley Doyle catches up with the film’s producer and director, award-winning filmmaker and investigative journalist, Abdallah El Binni

      In the summer of 1978, the leader of Lebanon’s Shia Muslims, Imam Musa al-Sadr, went to Libya with two companions to visit Colonel Gaddafi. During this trip, the three men disappeared. It’s been 30 years and no light has been shed on their whereabouts. In October 2011, when the world witnessed Gaddafi’s downfall, hope resurfaced for the truth to be unravelled.

      Abdallah El Binni began an investigative journey involving new witnesses and evidence.

      However, only one photograph of Imam Sadr and Gaddafi has been found, taken when they met back in 1975. Footage from the period of 1978 is very rare, with still shots of Imam Sadr posing with Arab leaders in Lebanon. However, there was nothing of his trip to Libya. Yet, with exclusive information found about what might have happened during the Imam’s journey and his meeting with the colonel, El Binni sets out to reconstruct scenes in this documentary.

      El Binni wanted an alternative to repeating the same footage over a 50-minute documentary.

      “We wanted something to break the monotony,” he says, “and this why we created the animated graphics.”

      This is the first time that 2D and 3D animation of this kind has been used in the Arab region. According to Lebanese-born El Binni, in order to make this documentary happen, animation was a must.

      “Without it, there is no spirit to the film, and maybe no film,” he says.

      Using just one small team from Al Jazeera Network, El Binni prepared the storyboard and sketches with his colleague from the creative department, Ahmed Ezzat. Side by side, they shared the roles of designer and art director over a three-month period. Adobe CS 5.5 was used along with After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator with 90% of the scenes drawn by hand.

      El Binni feels optimistic that the images complement the content.

      He explains: “The camera’s angles and the duration of the scenes depended on the amount of information we had. We excluded many details in the script to be able to deliver concrete animation scenes.”

      The film makes use of a lot of still images from Al Jazeera’s archives that are in an older format, while the new footage was shot using the Sony XDCAM PMW-EX3 and also the Canon 5D Mark II in some shots.

      To create a balance between the two meant hours of colour corrections and grading to unify the spirit of the still images while creating a smooth transition between the scenes.

      The addition of animation was not the only challenge faced in the making of The Imam and the Colonel. El Binni arrived in Libya on October 20, 2011, the day when Colonel Gaddafi was captured and killed.

      “I had to cross many risky places on my way to Tripoli,” recalls El Binni.

      “One mission was to go to the jail inside the military council headquarters, where one of Gadaffi’s high ranking advisors had been arrested. He had information on the mystery of the vanished Imam Sadr, so we tried to film secretly inside the secured compound corridors. Unfortunately, a soldier recognised what we were doing and arrested us for an hour. Our cameras were taken away for a week and all of the scenes were deleted.”

      Still, El Binni is no stranger to taking risks in his line of work.

      His career began in 1987 as a war zone photographer with Agence France Press (AFP), moving on to Reuters, covering the Lebanese Civil War and the Israeli invasions in South Lebanon.

      He also covered two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 1993 and 1996, and won the 1997 Golden Award at Cairo TV festival for his short film, Don’t Forget Qana, focusing on the massacre of 100 civilians killed inside a UN base in Qana village near Israel during a military operation.

      For Abu Dhabi TV, El Binni covered wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq, plus numerous events and crisis globally. In 2004, he signed a contract with Al Jazeera Satellite Channel where he has produced, written and directed more than 20 films.

      Shooting for The Imam and the Colonel took place in Libya, Italy, Egypt and Lebanon. For hidden scenes and those shot in sensitive security places, the small Sony HDR-SR12E handycam was used. All of the other shots including interviews were conducted with the Sony PMW-EX3 XDCAM and the Sony PDW-700 XDCAM.

      Although El Binni received help with creating the animated graphics and receiving logistical assistance from Al Jazeera’s bureaux in Beirut, Tripoli and Paris, he says that the making of this documentary was primarily a one-man show.

      “For investigative missions, you should be very careful and minimise your team,” he tells us.

      “I was in charge of research, field coordination and production, interviewing people, directing and writing the script. All in all, I handled the main responsibilities, but without help from the other departments at Al Jazeera, this film could not have been accomplished. I am especially grateful for the help from the editing section, the creative department and our cameramen at Al Jazeera’s foreign bureaux.”

      The documentary was first broadcast on Al Jazeera Arabic in May 2012 and on Al Jazeera English in July. Al Jazeera Documentary will screen it in November.

      “The response was great in Lebanon and Libya through local newspapers and politicians,” El Binni says.

      The controversy surrounding the mystery told in The Imam and the Colonel sparked a debate assigning a joint judiciary committee to re-open the files and start DNA investigations and forensic tests on the remains of suspected bodies found in Libya. This joint committee will also rely on the new witnesses revealed in the documentary, who spoke for the first time about their relation to this case.

      El Binni admits that he is, “addicted to investigative documentary production” and looks forward to taking up his challenge, which is under wraps for now.

      Tags: abdallah el binnial jazeera documentaryanimation

      Related Posts

      Saudi Film Commission highlights talent at Annecy Animation Film Festival

      Saudi Film Commission highlights talent at Annecy Animation Film Festival

      June 10, 2025
      TwelveP Animation and Powerkids Entertainment to co-produce first international animated series from Abu Dhabi

      TwelveP Animation and Powerkids Entertainment to co-produce first international animated series from Abu Dhabi

      May 20, 2025
      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh – Part I

      March 17, 2025
      Lebanese short film ‘Les Chenilles’ to screen at El Gouna Film Festival

      Tripoli Film Festival in Lebanon announces dates for 11th edition

      August 11, 2024
      Building a robust narrative

      Building a robust narrative

      August 5, 2024
      Creo announces inaugural edition of Sony Future Filmmaker Awards

      Sony Future Filmmaker Awards opens submissions for 2025 edition

      July 12, 2024

      Related News

      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Award 2012- BEST DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN ARABIC

      ASBU BroadcastPro ME Award 2012- BEST DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION IN ARABIC

      January 7, 2013
      More Related News

      BroadcastPro ME

      • About
      • Advertise
      • Subscribe
      • Magazine Archive
      • Directory
      • Contact
      • Privacy

      Follow us on Social Media

      No Result
      View All Result
      • News
      • Tech Features
      • Videos
      • Opinion
      • Interviews
      • Products
      • Magazine Archive
        • BroadcastPro ME Magazine
        • PRO Directory
      • Events

      Welcome Back!

      Login to your account below

      Forgotten Password?

      Create New Account!

      Fill the forms bellow to register

      All fields are required. Log In

      Retrieve your password

      Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

      Log In