On this episode of the Beirut Buzz podcast, we continue the thread of Lebanese women’s success stories by catching up with Lebanese-Canadian writer and director Dania Bdeir about her new movie “Warsha”, which nabbed Sundance Film Festival’s Best International Short Film award and the grand prize at the Asian Shorts Film Festival for 2022. Joined by Khansa, a Beirut-based multi-talented artist who played the film’s main character, Dania reveals to us the magical moment that inspired her storyline, the unexpected event that forced the production team to work in a virtual studio in France, and her personal experience with the cultural tension between Syrian and Lebanese populations – a theme touched upon by the movie. Join the conversation as Khansa shares his struggles as a male belly dancer redefining masculinity in the Middle East, how he relates to the character he embodied silently and his hopes for the future!
The 15-minute film follows the story of Mohamad, a Syrian crane operator working in Lebanon. You can watch the trailer of “Warsha” on YouTube and follow the movie’s Instagram account @warshashortfilm. Be sure to share this podcast with friends and family to spread the word and help the film get nominated for an Oscar!
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