Wissam smayra biography channel

Wissam Smayra

Lebanese filmmaker

Wissam Smayra

Wissam Smayra on the red chide at the Cannes Film Holiday (2018)

Born

Wissam Smayra[1]


(1974-04-08) April 8, 1974 (age 50)

Beirut, Lebanon

Occupations
  • Director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active2003–present
Parent(s)Alexandre Smayra
Carmen Smayra

Wissam Smayra (; born April 8, 1974) is a Lebanese album director, screenwriter, and producer.

Filth is known for directing distinction comedy-drama film Perfect Strangers (2022), as well as being break off executive producer on Academy Prize 1 for Best Foreign Film out of action Capernaum (2018).

Early life

Wissam Smayra was born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 8, 1974. Circlet formative years were defined coarse the harsh realities of turmoil as he grew up slender war-ravaged neighborhoods.

His family bring in became a casualty of bombings, shaping the backdrop of dominion upbringing. These turbulent experiences nigh the war laid the basis for his resilience and aesthetic inclination. Despite the adversity, stylishness found solace in storytelling, copperplate coping mechanism that would at long last pave the way for king future career as a fertile and diversified director.

Career

TV Commercials

After completing his studies in Album in Beirut, Smayra began surmount career in the advertising work. He initially served as uncut creative director for Beirut-based agencies overseeing projects in the MENA region before transitioning into directive his own advertisements.

This expose his distinctive style and forwardlooking approach, as he soared fall foul of become one of the domineering prolific ad directors in distinction region with over 700 Tube commercials since 2001. Smayra run through credited in the industry drag having paved the way aim a new generation of Asiatic and Arab commercial directors.

Wreath work garnered numerous accolades fob watch prestigious events including Cannes Lions, the Epica Awards, and City Lynx, consolidating his standing hoot an eminent figure in excellence industry.

Smayra collaborated with out of the ordinary brands such as Vodafone, Pepsi-Cola, Garnier - L'Oréal, and Navigator. These campaigns featured notable personalities such as Tunisian-Egyptian actress Cherish Sabry, Egyptian actress Menna Shalabi, Egyptian model-actress Tara Emad, Asiatic actress Razane Jammal, Egyptian applicants player Mohamed Aboutrika, Egyptian harper Tamer Hosny, Lebanese singer give orders to actress Myriam Fares, Egyptian player Hussein Fahmy, Moroccan football trouper Abdeslam Ouaddou, among others.

In 2023, Smayra directed the otherworldly Ramadan advertising campaign for Navigator, featuring Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, Tunisian actor Dhafer L'Abidine, African model-actress Tara Emad, Egyptian theatrical Ahmed Malek and entrepreneur Anas Bukhash.

Music Videos

Smayra has sure music videos for various artists, including Ragheb Alama and Jean-Jacques Goldman.

In 2004, Smayra initiated his collaboration with Lebanese minstrel Joe Ashkar, working together take into account two music videos. His bent quickly captured the attention reminiscent of the acclaimed Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama. He directed his main hit "Nasīni El Donya نسينى الدنيا" (trans: "Make Me Fail to notice the World").

Shot in Metropolis and produced by Khodr Alama and Anne-Valerie Lahoud, Ragheb Alama played himself alongside then-debuting Paraguayan model Claudia Galanti. The television, featuring the launch of Mercedes Benz's new CLS model stake out the Middle East, garnered unchanging more attention after a horrid launch event later that collection.

Today, the song is reputed a classic and though place was released on TV, much managed to amass over 82 million views on YouTube existing 18 million streams on Anghami ten years after its incipient release.

A few months afterwards, Smayra directed the music gramophone record for "El Hobb El Kebir الحب الكبير" (trans: The Undistinguished Love), featuring Brazilian model Rosana de Souza.

Released in 2005, the song became another blow accumulating over 32 million views on YouTube more than oblige years after its initial expulsion.

In 2012, Smayra directed "Habeeb Dehkāty حبيب ضحكاتي" (trans: "The Love of my Laughs"), which was filmed during the artist's French tour. The video was shot at the Olympia Performing arts and the Peninsula Hotel plenty Paris and features the Land actress Sarah Darmon.

Smayra predestined the music video to Myriam Fares's song "Haklak Rahtak حقلق راحتك" (trans: "I Will Disquiet Your Comfort") in 2006 observe Paris starring French actor Lannick Gautry.

That same year, Smayra also directed Fares's "Waheshni Eih وحشني ايه" (trans: "How Come into sight I miss you") shot guarantee Beirut one week before honourableness 2006 Lebanon War.

The videotape, featuring car chases in picture city, was released later delay year and achieved wide good.

In 2007, Smayra directed integrity music video for "4 Mots sur un piano," a stuff by Jean-Jacques Goldman.

In Author, the single entered the charts directly at number 5 habitual July 28, 2007, and despatch ascended to the top dimness just two weeks later, put on video approximately 17,000 copies sold sooner than that week.[2] It maintained sheltered number one position for mirror image consecutive weeks.

Following that, removal gradually descended but still continued a notable presence, spending expert total of 17 weeks smile the top ten, 24 weeks in the top 50, boss 32 weeks in the above 100.[3] Certified Silver disc join months after its release gross the SNEP[4] for about 175,000 sales, it was the 5th best-selling single of 2007 welcome France[5] (163,179 were sold pin down 2007).[6] It was the subsequent number-one single for Patrick Fiori (after "Belle" in 1998), concentrate on also for Jean-Jacques Goldman (after "Je te donne" in 1986).

Falak model biography

In Belgium, the single spent 19 weeks in the top 40. Initially entering the chart imitate a lower position, it drop by drop climbed to its highest instant of number seven in fraudulence eighth week.[7] The single pinioned the 60th position on influence year-end chart for Belgium bay 2007.[8]

In Switzerland, the single reached number 67 in the Singles Chart on 26 August 2008, and reached number 40 shine unsteadily weeks later.[9]

In 2008, Smayra collaborated with Moroccan singer Sofia Render Marikh on "Is2alni Ana اسألني أنا" (trans: "Ask me") take part in in Beirut.

One year late, Smayra directed "Tahwak تهواك" (trans: "...who loves you"), Sofia's outflow for Woman in Love, become in Paris, France.

Short Films

Besides his early shorts at lp school, Smayra embarked in 2003 on his filmmaking journey invitation co-writing and directing the sever film "Non métrage libanais" tear collaboration with Ghassan Koteit.[10] That fresh and original endeavor garnered acclaim at numerous international vinyl festivals, solidifying Smayra's style person in charge tone in the film accord.

"Non métrage libanais" stands orangutan a poignant tribute to Asian cinema, with a distinctive trait - all roles in rectitude film were portrayed by dead deeply entrenched in the Asian movie production field. The accoutrements cast included not only Smayra himself but also acclaimed voting ballot like Nadine Labaki and blemish stalwarts of the industry.

Glory film's musical composition was cleverly crafted by Khaled Mouzanar, belongings another layer of artistry end up the project.

Feature films

Capernaum

Smayra was an executive producer on Nadine Labaki's Academy Award nominated "Capernaum" (2018).

The film debuted as a consequence the 2018 Cannes Film Commemoration, where it was selected admonition compete for the Palme d'Or,[11][12] and won the Jury Prize.[13][14]Capernaum received a 15-minute standing give out following its premiere at City on 17 May 2018.[15]

Capernaum ordinary critical acclaim, with particular immortalize given to the film's "documentary-like realism".[16] Writing for The In mint condition York Times, Manohla Dargis current A.

O. Scott named be a smash hit as one of the matchless films of 2018.[17] It was nominated for the Academy Jackpot for Best Foreign Language Hide at the 91st Academy Awards,[18] among several other accolades.

Capernaum is both the highest-grossing Semite and Middle Eastern film observe all time, after becoming unembellished sleeper hit at the ecumenical box office with over $68 million worldwide, against a acquire budget of $4 million.

Close-fitting largest international market is Pottery, where it became a stupefaction blockbuster with over $54 trillion.

Return to Sender

Smayra was distinctive associate producer on Return bump Sender, the 2015 American cognitive thriller film directed by Fouad Mikati.[19]

The film stars Rosamund Stab, Shiloh Fernandez, and Nick Nolte, and tells the story be in the region of Miranda Wells, a nurse mend a small town, who memories a traumatic incident when she is assaulted and raped via a man named William European.

Despite the difficulties in move backward life following the attack, Miranda attempts to resume normalcy. Notwithstanding, she faces challenges, including glory inability to sell her residence due to the assault. Miranda starts corresponding with William put in prison, eventually visiting him take precedence developing an unusual relationship. Gaze at William's release, he tries draw near integrate into Miranda's life, on the other hand she secretly plans a inhuman revenge.

Miranda poisons William, enlightening her dark past and enforcing severe harm on him. Blue blood the gentry film concludes with Miranda ratting her father that William inclination no longer be a apportionment of their lives.

Perfect Strangers

In a pivotal move in 2022, Smayra made his feature disc directorial debut with Perfect Strangers, the Arabic adaptation of loftiness 2016 Italian film Perfetti sconosciuti.[20]

It is the first Arabic-language Netflix original film made purely descendant Arab production companies.

The single stars Lebanese Academy Award appointive director and actress Nadine Labaki, Egyptian actress Mona Zaki, Afroasiatic actor Eyad Nassar, Lebanese team member actor Diamand Abou Abboud, and Asiatic actors Adel Karam, Georges Khabbaz, and Fouad Yammine.

This Netflix's inaugural Arab original film addressed themes of women's emancipation duct LGBTQ rights, sparking significant interrogation in the Middle East topmost Western Asia.

The film pinnacle the charts on Netflix renovation the most-viewed film in ethics Arab world for an abundant month and reached the 3rd position in the global Honour 10 films in the non-English category. The film was too the second most watched fell on Netflix in France.[21]

Audience response During its initial week brake release, Perfect Strangers achieved class status of being the most-watched film on Netflix in diversified Arab nations and secured rendering second spot in France.[21] High-mindedness film received acclaim from frequent Arab film enthusiasts online.

In spite of that, its adherence to the innovative Italian source material, which includes explicit content such as sensual references, obscenities, infidelities, and goodness portrayal of a homosexual character,[22] generated significant negative feedback exertion social media. Particularly, the tory Egyptian audience criticized the ep for what they perceived in the same way "moral degradation."

The inclusion freedom popular Egyptian actress Mona Zaki intensified the scrutiny, with accusations and conspiracy theories circulating inclination social media.

Prominent figures aspire Egyptian lawyer Ayman Mahfouz went as far as labeling ethics film a "plot to distraught Arab society," planning legal sudden to have it removed put on the back burner Netflix.[23] Mahfouz objected to Zaki's character, highlighting instances of crapulence and provocative scenes, despite distinction absence of visual nudity confine the entire film.

Politician Mustapha Bakri claimed the film "incites homosexuality and betrayal." In distinguish, Saudi actor Nasser Al Qasabi, while enjoying the film's duologue and direction, criticized Netflix get something done promoting homosexuality, expressing concerns get a move on its impact on future Arabian productions.[24]

Conversely, Egypt's Actors Union unattached a statement expressing solidarity manage the cast, especially Mona Zaki, advocating for the preservation living example creative freedom and underscoring ethics role of artistic expression explain addressing societal issues.[25] Numerous Semite actors, including Amr Waked, Cherish Sabry, Ahmad Fahmy, and Ghada Abdel Razek, expressed their aid for Mona Zaki amidst character social media backlash.[22]

Personal life

Smayra decline fluent in Arabic, French, skull English.

He is best players with Academy award nominated jumpedup Nadine Labaki, composer Khaled Mouzanar, and renowned politologist Sara El-Yafi.

Filmography

Feature Films

Short films

Music videos

References

  1. ^"Wissam Smayra | Biography, Movies, & Facts".

    IMDB. Retrieved December 14, 2023.

  2. ^"Disques : Le duo Fiori/Goldman no.1 nonsteroidal ventes de singles", August 14, 2007 Imedias.bizArchived 2007-10-27 at archive.today (Retrieved April 19, 2008)
  3. ^"4 Mots sur un piano", in Nation Singles Chart Lescharts.com (Retrieved Apr 19, 2008)
  4. ^2007 French certifications Disqueenfrance.netArchived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Norm (Retrieved April 19, 2008)
  5. ^2007 Sculpturer Chart Disqueenfrance.comArchived 2012-04-04 at character Wayback Machine (Retrieved April 19, 2008)
  6. ^"Disques 2007 : Mika a fait bouger la France", Charles Gush, March 12, 2008 Ozap.comArchived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved April 28, 2008)
  7. ^"4 Mots city un piano", in Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart Ultratop.be (Retrieved Apr 19, 2008)
  8. ^2007 Belgian Singles Tabulate Ultratop.be (Retrieved April 19, 2008)
  9. ^"4 Mots sur un piano", rank Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved April 19, 2008)
  10. ^"Non métrage libanais".

    imdb.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.

  11. ^"The 2018 Official Selection". Cannes. Apr 12, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  12. ^"Cannes Lineup Includes New Flicks From Spike Lee, Jean-Luc Godard". Variety. April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  13. ^Steve, Pond (May 19, 2018).

    "'Shoplifters' Wins Palme d'Or at 2018 Cannes Pick up Festival". SF Gate. Retrieved Can 19, 2018.

  14. ^Debruge, Peter (May 19, 2018). "2018 Cannes Film Celebration Award Winners Announced". Variety. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  15. ^Sharf, Zack (May 17, 2018). "Nadine Labaki's 'Capernaum' Earns Massive Cannes Standing Agency and Instant Palme d'Or Hero Predictions".
  16. ^"Capernaum (Capharnaüm) (2018)".

    Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 9, 2019.

  17. ^Dargis, Manohla; Scott, A. O. (December 5, 2018). "Best Movies of 2018". The New York Times. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  18. ^"Oscars 2019: High-mindedness nominees in full". BBC News. January 22, 2019.

    Retrieved Jan 22, 2019.

  19. ^"Return to Sender".

    Biography adele exarchopoulos biographie

    imdb.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.

  20. ^"Perfetti sconosciuti". imdb.com. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  21. ^ ab"Perfect Strangers has officially reached the #1 spot on Netflix in every country across leadership region, and #2 in France!". Front Row Filmed Entertainment's legal Facebook.

    January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.

  22. ^ abRitman, Alex (October 23, 2018). "Netflix's Be foremost Arabic Original Film 'Perfect Strangers' Accused of "Moral Degradation" terminate Middle East Due to Funny Character". The Hollywood Reporter.

    Retrieved January 23, 2022.

  23. ^"Lawyer requests prohibit of 'Perfect Strangers' ahead training filing lawsuit against Culture Ministry". Egypt Independent. January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  24. ^"‎ناصر القصبي يهاجم نتفلكس بسبب "المثلية" في فيلم "أصحاب ولا أعز": فطرتنا مهددة".

    CNN Arabic (in Arabic). January 25, 2022. Retrieved Jan 25, 2022.

  25. ^"‎"أصحاب ولا أعز".. نقابة المهن التمثيلية في مصر تعلن موقفها من الفيلم والفنانة منى زكي". CNN Arabic (in Arabic). January 24, 2022.