The docudrama, set in Lebanon, uses the format of diaries to narrate four tumultuous years in a nation struggling to break free from its own chains.
Myriam El Hajj’s Lebanese feature-length documentary Diaries From Lebanon has continued to garner accolades, most recently winning the Longs Métrages Français Prix Du Jury (The Grand Jury Prize for French Features) at the Champs Élysées Film Festival, after premiering at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February.
In June, the documentary toured five different festivals, starting with the Geneva International Oriental Film Festival – FIFOG, where it received a Special Mention for Quality of Subject Treatment. This was followed by screenings at the Arts of Lebanon Festival in the UK, the Shanghai International Film Festival in China, and the Tofifest – Toruń International Film Festival in Poland.
Diaries From Lebanon also featured at two Canadian festivals, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and the Doxa Documentary Film Festival, as well as at the Visions du Réel International Film Festival in Switzerland.
El-Hajj’s documentary delves into the lives of Georges, Joumana, and Perla Joe, each representing a different generation with unique perspectives on reshaping Lebanon. However, as the country grapples with disruptions and personal quests unfold, they are confronted with the question — can our dreams survive in a world in turmoil?
Diaries From Lebanon (in Arabic Mitl ‘Osas el Hob, or Like Love Stories) is a joint production between Lebanon, France, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The film was written, directed, and co-filmed by Myriam El Hajj, with contributions from Jihad Saadé and Mohamed Siam. It was produced by Georges Schoucair of Abbout Productions (Lebanon) and Laurent Ruszniewski of GoGoGo Films (France). Editing was handled by Anita Perez and Stéphanie Sicard. MAD World, a subsidiary of MAD Solutions, is responsible for the film’s global sales.
The documentary features author and activist Joumana Haddad, Lebanese war veteran Georges Moufarej, and artist and activist Perla Joe Maalouli.
Diaries From Lebanon received support from various organisations, including the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC), the Fonds Image de la Francophonie, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, International Media Support (IMS), Visions Sud Est with the support of the SDC, and the Lebanese Film Fund-an Initiative of the Fondation Liban Cinema.
Additionally, the film received funding from the Doha Film Institute, the Red Sea Fund, and the Atlas Workshops of the Marrakech International Film Festival, and won the Mactari Mixing Auditorium Award and Titra Films Award at the Final Cut in Venice Workshop.
