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| native_name = إليان الراهب
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| birth_date = {{Birth year|1972}}
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'''Eliane Raheb''' ({{lang-ar|إليان الراهب}}) is a documentary [[filmmaker]] and director from [[Lebanon]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de/en/gast.php?id=1274|title=Berliner Künstlerprogramm {{!}} Biography: Raheb, Eliane|website=www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de|access-date=2016-11-21}}</ref> She made her debut as a director with her 2012 film, ''Layali Bala Noom'' (''Sleepless Nights'').<ref name=":0" />
'''Eliane Raheb''' ({{langx|ar|إليان الراهب}}; born 1972) is a [[documentary film|documentary filmmaker]] and director from [[Lebanon]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de/en/gast.php?id=1274|title=Berliner Künstlerprogramm {{!}} Biography: Raheb, Eliane|website=www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de|access-date=2016-11-21}}</ref> She made her debut as a director with her 2012 film, ''Layali Bala Noom'' (''Sleepless Nights'').<ref name=":0" /> Her latest film is ''[[Miguel's War]]'' from 2021. That film received the Teddy Award for best LGBTW film at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2021-06-19 |title="Miguel's War" erhält Teddy Award |url=https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/berlinale/beitraege/2021/teddy-award-miguels-war-instructions-survival.html |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=www.rbb24.de |language=de}}</ref>


== Early life and education==
== Early life and education==
Eliane Raheb was born in 1972 in [[Lebanon]], where she spent most of her youth during the [[Lebanese Civil War]]. In a 2014 interview, Raheb described her youth during the war: "I remember moving from one place to the next in search of shelter, like everyone else at the time. We lived through hard and painful moments. Despite that, we prevailed: we went to school and carried on with our lives... I will never forget the days of social harmony, when everyone would help the other". She was 19 when the war ended.<ref name="mc-doualiya.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.mc-doualiya.com/programs/sans-masque-mcd/20140505-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%81 |title=المخرجة اللبنانية إليان الراهب تعرض «ليالٍ بلا نوم» في باريس: "لم أفهم هذه الحروب الصغيرة داخل الحرب الكبيرة!" |last=Ltief |first=Gaby |date=2014-09-05 |website=MC Doualiya |language=ar |url-status=live |access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref>
Eliane Raheb was born in 1972 in Lebanon, where she spent most of her youth during the [[Lebanese Civil War]]. In a 2014 interview, Raheb described her youth during the war: "I remember moving from one place to the next in search of shelter, like everyone else at the time. We lived through hard and painful moments. Despite that, we prevailed: we went to school and carried on with our lives... I will never forget the days of social harmony, when everyone would help the other." She was 19 when the war ended.<ref name="mc-doualiya.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.mc-doualiya.com/programs/sans-masque-mcd/20140505-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%81 |title=المخرجة اللبنانية إليان الراهب تعرض «ليالٍ بلا نوم» في باريس: "لم أفهم هذه الحروب الصغيرة داخل الحرب الكبيرة!" |last=Ltief |first=Gaby |date=2014-09-05 |website=MC Doualiya |language=ar |access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref>


Raheb's grandfather owned a theatre in [[Zahlé]] that helped spark her interest in film. Raheb stated that her family would take refuge in her grandfather's theatre during the war where they would watch films.<ref name="youtube.com">inpettofilm. “Eliane Raheb - Gast Des Berliner Künstlerprogramms Des DAAD 2015.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IiD3xKdnw.</ref> She began acting in theatre, working with [[Roger Assaf]]. Alongside acting, she began writing and directing in theatre.<ref name="alkhaleej.ae">توبي هناء. “إليان الراهب: الموضوعية السينمائية كذبة كبيرة.” صحيفة الخليج, 30 Mar. 2015, www.alkhaleej.ae/alkhaleej/page/5ddb31c4-fbc9-4211-878e-f1782bca4d71.</ref> She then transitioned from theatre to film, studying at IESAV{{Where|date=December 2019}} in [[Beirut]] to become a filmmaker.
Raheb's grandfather owned a theatre in [[Zahlé]] that sparked her interest in film. She said her family often took refuge in her grandfather's theatre during the war and would watch films there.<ref name="youtube.com">inpettofilm. “Eliane Raheb - Gast Des Berliner Künstlerprogramms Des DAAD 2015.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IiD3xKdnw.</ref> She began acting in theatre,{{when|date=March 2020}} working with [[Roger Assaf]].{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Alongside acting, she began to write and direct theatre.<ref name="alkhaleej.ae">توبي هناء. “إليان الراهب: الموضوعية السينمائية كذبة كبيرة.” صحيفة الخليج, 30 Mar. 2015, www.alkhaleej.ae/alkhaleej/page/5ddb31c4-fbc9-4211-878e-f1782bca4d71.</ref> Raheb then moved from theatre to film, studying at [[IESAV]] in [[Beirut]].


==Career==
==Career==
=== Early career ===
=== Early career ===
Raheb's directorial debut came the release of her short film ''The Last Screening'', which revolves around the relationship between a girl and her grandfather's theater.<ref name=":0" />
Raheb's directorial debut was her 1995 short film ''The Last Screening'', which revolves around the relationship between a girl and her grandfather's theatre.<ref name=":0" /> Raheb directed the 2002 documentary ''[[So Near Yet So Far]]'', which is about the [[February 6 Intifada]] that squashed the hopes of visiting neighbouring countries for children living in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan.<ref name=":0" />


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''Suicide'' (2003) documents the Lebanese response to the [[American invasion of Iraq]], depicting intelligence agencies involved and those in Lebanon who accepted Iraqi propaganda and joined the fight.<ref name=":0" />
Raheb directed the 2002 documentary ''So Near Yet So Far'', exploring details on how the [[February 6 Intifada]] squashed the hopes of visiting neighbouring countries for children living Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan.<ref name=":0" />


⚫
With her 2008 documentary ''This Is Lebanon'', Raheb documented the re-emergence of violence in Lebanon.<ref name=":0" /> The film follows the resistance against the establishment and the patriarchal family structure, which Raheb says are partly to blame for the political and religious sectarianism in Lebanon.<ref name=":0" /> ''This Is Lebanon'' was broadcast internationally on television by [[Arte|ARTE]], [[ZDF]], and [[Al Jadeed]].<ref name=":0" />
⚫
''Suicide'' (2003) documents the Lebanese response to the American invasion of [[Iraq]], depicting intelligence agencies involved, and those in Lebanon who fell for Iraqi propaganda and joined the fight.<ref name=":0" />

⚫
With her 2008 documentary ''This Is Lebanon'', Raheb captures the reemergence of violence in Lebanon.<ref name=":0" /> The film follows the resistance against the establishment and the patriarchal family structure, which Raheb purports are partly to blame for the political and religious sectarianism in her country.<ref name=":0" /> ''This Is Lebanon'' was broadcast internationally on television by [[Arte|ARTE]], [[ZDF]], and [[Al Jadeed]].<ref name=":0" />


=== ''Sleepless Nights'' ===
=== ''Sleepless Nights'' ===
In her 2012 documentary ''Sleepless Nights'', Raheb explores the blanket amnesty granted to all those who committed political crimes during the [[Lebanese Civil War|Lebanese civil war]] and how it affected both the victims and the perpetrators of these crimes.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/sleepless-nights-1117948928/|title=Review: ‘Sleepless Nights’|last=Weissberg|first=Jay|date=2012-12-22|newspaper=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref> To that end, ''Sleepless Nights'' chronicles the lives of [[Assaad Chaftari]], an ex-intelligence officer who was directly responsible for many casualties during his tenure as a high-ranking member of the Christian right wing militia during the [[Lebanese Civil War]], and Maryam Saiidi, whose son Maher, a young communist fighter, went missing in 1982.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=http://watson.brown.edu/events/2014/screening-sleepless-nights-film-directed-eliane-raheb|title=Screening of Sleepless Nights, a film directed by Eliane Raheb {{!}} Watson Institute|website=watson.brown.edu|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref>
In her 2012 documentary ''Sleepless Nights'', Raheb explores the [[Lebanese Civil War#End of the war|amnesty law]] that was granted to people who committed political crimes during the war and its effects on the victims and the perpetrators of these crimes.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/sleepless-nights-1117948928/|title=Review: 'Sleepless Nights'|last=Weissberg|first=Jay|date=2012-12-22|newspaper=Variety|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref> To that end, ''Sleepless Nights'' depicts the lives of [[Assaad Chaftari]], an ex-intelligence officer and a high-ranking member of a right-wing militia, who killed many people; and Maryam Saiidi, whose son went missing in 1982.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=http://watson.brown.edu/events/2014/screening-sleepless-nights-film-directed-eliane-raheb|title=Screening of Sleepless Nights, a film directed by Eliane Raheb {{!}} Watson Institute|website=watson.brown.edu|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref> Raheb devised ''Sleepless Nights'' after taking an interest in Chaftari's story.<ref name="Beirut, Ayam 2013">Beirut, Ayam. “A Chat with Eliane Raheb, Director of 'Sleepless Nights' (English Subtitles).” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwOMKIm2dk8.</ref> Through her research and interview with him, Eliane covered the two conflicting narratives that are present in the film.<ref name="Beirut, Ayam 2013"/>
Raheb went about Sleepless Nights inspired by the character of Assaad Chaftari, she then began meeting with him and “interrogating him” as she put it.<ref name="Beirut, Ayam 2013">Beirut, Ayam. “A Chat with Eliane Raheb, Director of 'Sleepless Nights' (English Subtitles).” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwOMKIm2dk8.</ref>


When Sleepless Nights was first screened, it had trouble getting large-scale distribution in Lebanon due to its documentarian nature. Instead the film was screened in three Lebanese theatres through individual efforts on behalf of Raheb and her supporters. A report on the Lebanese TV channel “Future” criticized Sleepless nights calling it a failure for having less than 700 views within one week of its release. However, the critique was proven wrong as the film received great reception and was screened on various platforms such as [[Al Jazeera Documentary Channel|Al-Jazeera Documentary]] and [[Al Jadeed|Al-Jadeed]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elfann.com/news/show/1074832/%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84:-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%87-%D9%88%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%82%D9%8A |title=إليان الراهب ترد على المستقبل: تقرير تافه وغير دقيق |publisher=Elfann.com |date= |accessdate=2020-03-07}}</ref>
When ''Sleepless Nights'' was released, it had trouble getting large-scale distribution in Lebanon due to its documentarian nature.{{Vague|date=March 2020}} Instead, the film was screened in three Lebanese theatres through individual efforts on behalf of Raheb and her supporters. [[Future Television]] criticized ''Sleepless Nights'', calling it a "failure" for having less than 700 views within one week of its release. However, the film was acclaimed and screened on various platforms, such as the [[Al Jazeera Documentary Channel]] and [[Al Jadeed]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elfann.com/news/show/1074832/%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84:-%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%87-%D9%88%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%82%D9%8A |title=إليان الراهب ترد على المستقبل: تقرير تافه وغير دقيق |publisher=Elfann.com |access-date=2020-03-07}}</ref> Jay Weissberg, writing for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', said, "It's hard to find a Lebanese film that doesn’t focus on the bloody civil war. And yet it is even harder to find a film that treats this topic better than Sleepless Nights."<ref name=":3" />

Moreover, ''Sleepless Nights'' received a warm reception from critics. Jay Weissberg, writing for ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', said, "It's hard to find a Lebanese film that doesn’t focus on the bloody [[civil war]]. And yet it is even harder to find a film that treats this topic better than Sleepless Nights."<ref name=":3" />

[[Viola Shafik]], author of ''Arab Cinema: History and Cultural Identity'', referred to Raheb's association Beirut DC as a "backbone of Lebanese alternative film art".<ref name=":2" />

Raheb said: "When a film is released, it is no longer mine, it becomes the people's. They might hate it or love it, but what is important is that it stirs up a storm of conversation.”<ref name="alkhaleej.ae" />


=== ''Those Who Remain'' ===
=== ''Those Who Remain'' ===
Her latest documentary ''Those Who Remain'' was screened in more than 20 festivals and received 5 awards, such as the Special Jury Prize Muhr Feature award at the 13th annual dubai film festival.<ref name="ReferenceA">“DIFF Awards 2016.” Dubai Film Fest, dubaifilmfest.com/en/page/387/muhr_awards_2016.html.</ref> ''Those Who Remain'' explores the life of Haykal, a 60 years old Christian farmer who lives in a complex geo-political spot in North Lebanon, a few kilometers away from Syria, and who is struggling to stay in his land, amidst all sectarian tensions, fear and hopelessness. Raheb says “I wanted to give the land a political, not only geographical, meaning”.<ref>Berlin, Alfilm. “Interview with Director Eliane Raheb.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Apr. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3OuJciROpg.</ref>
Her 2018 documentary ''Those Who Remain'', which was screened{{Year needed|date=March 2020}} at more than 20 festivals, is about a 60-year old Christian farmer living in North Lebanon who is struggling to stay in his land amid sectarian tensions. Raheb said, "I wanted to give the land a political, not only geographical, meaning".<ref>Berlin, Alfilm. “Interview with Director Eliane Raheb.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Apr. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3OuJciROpg.</ref>


=== ''Miguel's War'' ===
In 2021, Raheb produced and directed ''Miguel's War'', a hybrid documentary which follows a gay man who returns to Lebanon after 37 years in exile in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miguel's War with director Eliane Raheb, in conversation with Sabine El Chamaa |url=https://chra.bard.edu/event/miguels-war/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Center for Human Rights and the Arts |language=en-US}}</ref> The film received the Teddy Award for best LGBTQ film at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival.<ref name=":5" />
== Other work ==
== Other work ==
Alongside her career as a filmmaker, Raheb also supports the Lebanese film community by teaching filmmaking at the [[Saint Joseph University|St. Joseph University]] in Beirut and being active in cultural organizations in Lebanon.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Armes, R..''Arab Filmmakers of the Middle East: A Dictionary.'' Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2010. ''Project MUSE''</ref>
Raheb also supports the Lebanese film community by teaching filmmaking at the [[Saint Joseph University]] in Beirut and being active in Lebanese cultural organizations.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Armes, R..''Arab Filmmakers of the Middle East: A Dictionary.'' Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2010. ''Project MUSE''</ref>

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One of Eliane Raheb's arguably biggest contributions to [[Arab cinema]] is Beirut DC. Founded by Raheb in 1999, Beirut DC is a cultural association whose objectives include providing training and networking opportunities to independent filmmakers while simultaneously documenting and promoting their work in Lebanon through co-production and screenings.<ref name=":2">Shafik, Viola. Arab Cinema : History and Cultural Identity (New Revised Edition) (New Revised). Cairo, EG: American University in Cairo Press, 2000. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 5 December 2016.</ref> She has been the artistic director of Beirut Cinema Days film festival for 6 editions. ''Ayam Bayrut al-sinim'iya'', counts a touring Arab Film Week among her association's most effective cultural initiatives.<ref name=":2" />


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In 1999, she founded Beirut DC, a cultural association that supports and promotes the work of independent filmmakers in Lebanon through co-production and screenings.<ref name=":2">Shafik, Viola. Arab Cinema : History and Cultural Identity (New Revised Edition) (New Revised). Cairo, EG: American University in Cairo Press, 2000. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 5 December 2016.</ref> [[Viola Shafik]], author of ''Arab Cinema: History and Cultural Identity'', referred to Raheb's association Beirut DC as a "backbone of Lebanese alternative film art".<ref name=":2" /> Raheb has also been the artistic director of the Beirut Cinema Days film festival for six editions. "''[[Ayam Bayrut al-sinim'iya]]''" considered her touring Arab Film Week among her association's most effective cultural initiatives.<ref name=":2" />
Together with producer Nizar Hassan, who produced ''Sleepless Nights'', Raheb founded Free Arabs (2011-2012), a documentary film project that was both transnational and multimedia.<ref name=":0" /> They produced 160 short films as part of this project, all of which were by young filmmakers emanating from seven countries that took part in the Arab Spring.<ref name=":0" /> All 160 short documentaries, which detail the day-to-day lives of Arabs during the revolutions, were aired online.<ref name=":4" />


Raheb's Lebanese-based production company Itar Productions, is active throughout the Arab world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dohafilminstitute.com/financing/projects/grants/sleepless-nights|title=Sleepless nights|newspaper=Doha Film Institute|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref>
Together with producer [[Nizar Hassan]], who produced ''Sleepless Nights'', Raheb founded Free Arabs (2011-2012), an international multimedia documentary film project.<ref name=":0" /> Free Arabs produced 160 short films, all of which were made by young filmmakers from seven countries that took part in the [[Arab Spring]].<ref name=":0" /> All 160 short documentaries, which depict the lives of Arabs during the revolutions, were published online.<ref name=":4" /> Raheb's Lebanese-based production company [[Itar Productions]] is active throughout the Arab world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dohafilminstitute.com/financing/projects/grants/sleepless-nights|title=Sleepless nights|newspaper=Doha Film Institute|access-date=2016-12-06}}</ref>


==Style and themes==
==Style and themes==
Raheb has displayed an interest in the Lebanese experience across her [[filmography]]. Commenting on her own work, Raheb stated, "‘In the absence of a film industry structure in Lebanon, short films have performed the invaluable task of chronicling life in Lebanon after the war. They provide the material for a potential cinema."<ref>Khatib, Lina. Tauris World Cinema : Lebanese Cinema : Imagining the Civil War and Beyond. London, US: I.B.Tauris, 2008. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 5 December 2016.</ref> Eliane believes that cinema is an integral tool that should be used in order to unravel Lebanon's past. She says “If we don’t talk about the past, we cannot move on to the future”.<ref name="mc-doualiya.com" />
Raheb is interested in Lebanese experiences. Commenting on her own work, Raheb stated, "In the absence of a film industry structure in Lebanon, short films have performed the invaluable task of chronicling life in Lebanon after the war. They provide the material for a potential cinema."<ref>[[Lina Khatib|Khatib, Lina]]. Tauris World Cinema : Lebanese Cinema : Imagining the Civil War and Beyond. London, US: I.B.Tauris, 2008. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 5 December 2016.</ref> She described that cinema is a tool that should be used to unravel Lebanon's past.<ref name="mc-doualiya.com" />


Raheb's childhood largely influences her work. Regarding the wars, she said that she "never understood the little wars within the big one".<ref name="Sept 2014">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mc-doualiya.com/programs/sans-masque-mcd/20140505-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%81|title=بدون قناع - المخرجة اللبنانية إليان الراهب تعرض «ليالٍ بلا نوم» في باريس: "لم أفهم هذه الحروب الصغيرة داخل الحرب الكبيرة!"|date=May 9, 2014|website=مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD}}</ref> Later, she described the war's influence on her work: "The war lingers in my head, and I always search for it traces. So I wanted to ask my questions on the screen." She began work on her socio-political documentary around 2000.<ref name="Sept 2014"/>
Raheb's childhood largely influenced her work. She said she "never understood the little wars within the big one".<ref name="Sept 2014">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mc-doualiya.com/programs/sans-masque-mcd/20140505-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%86%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%84%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%81|title=بدون قناع - المخرجة اللبنانية إليان الراهب تعرض «ليالٍ بلا نوم» في باريس: "لم أفهم هذه الحروب الصغيرة داخل الحرب الكبيرة!"|date=May 9, 2014|website=مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD}}</ref> Later, she said, "The war lingers in my head, and I always search for it traces. So I wanted to ask my questions on the screen". She began working on her first socio-political documentary in 2000.<ref name="Sept 2014"/>


When asked about her objectivity in ''Sleepless Nights'', Raheb responded: "In the field of cinema, objectivity is a big lie. I tried to be as objective as possible. That is why I did not make a film about the Lebanese Civil War, rather, I made a film about two people who lived through the war. I began from that reality, to tell their story, not mine. This film is not a biased journalistic reportl rather it is a creative work that identifies with the human: her emotions, fears, and dreams.”<ref name="alkhaleej.ae"/> Her story began with an interest in one of the film's characters, Assaad. Through her research and interview with him, Eliane covered the two conflicting narratives that is present in the film.<ref name="Beirut, Ayam 2013"/>
Raheb said of her objective style in ''Sleepless Nights'': "In the field of cinema, objectivity is a big lie. I tried to be as objective as possible. That is why I did not make a film about the Lebanese Civil War. Rather, I made a film about two people who lived through the war. I began from that reality, to tell their story, not mine. This film is not a biased journalistic report; rather it is a creative work that identifies with the human: her emotions, fears, and dreams."<ref name="alkhaleej.ae"/>


Because of its political nature, Raheb's work is largely documentary. However Raheb describes her method as such: “Then I learned, again, through documentary, how to bring back the fiction……. so I am dealing with an issue that is important, but I am having real characters, instead of having actors, but if I want to be cinematic, I have to deal with them as if they are characters in a film… …I have to give them the time to develop their own story with a dramatical line”.<ref name="youtube.com"/>
Because of its political nature, Raheb's work is largely documentary. She said; "I learned;&nbsp;... through documentary, how to bring back the fiction&nbsp;... so I am dealing with an issue that is important, but I am having real characters instead of having actors; but if I want to be cinematic, I have to deal with them as if they are characters in a film&nbsp;... I have to give them the time to develop their own story with a dramatical line".<ref name="youtube.com"/>


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
⚫
Raheb's documentary ''[[This Is Lebanon]]'' received the Excellency Award at the [[Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival]].<ref name=":4" /> At the [[Mumbai Film Festival]], ''Suicide'' garnered second place;<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' included the film in its list of the 25 best international films of 2013.<ref name=":0" /> ''Suicide'' also won competitions including the Human Rights Prize at the Cine Invisible festival in [[Bilbao]], Spain; an award for documentary films at the [[Birds Eye View Festival]] in London, and the full-length film competition at the [[LAIFF Festival]] in Argentina.<ref name=":0" />{{Better source|date=March 2020}} ''Those Who Remain'' won the Special Jury Prize Muhr Feature Award at the 13th [[Dubai International Film Festival]].<ref name="ReferenceA">“DIFF Awards 2016.” Dubai Film Fest, dubaifilmfest.com/en/page/387/muhr_awards_2016.html.</ref>
Raheb's documentary ''This Is Lebanon'' received the Excellency Award at the Yamagata film festival in Japan.<ref name=":4" />

⚫
At the [[Mumbai Film Festival]], Raheb's film ''Suicide'' garnered second place.<ref name=":0" /> ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' included the film in its list of the 25 best international films of 2013.<ref name=":0" /> It also won a number of competitions, including the Human Rights Prize at the Cine Invisible in Bilbao, an award for documentary films at the Birds Eye View Festival in London, and the full-length film competition at the LAIFF Festival in Argentina.<ref name=":0" />

Her film Those Who Remain won Special Jury Prize Muhr Feature award at the 13th annual Dubai film festival.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 65: Line 68:
|-
|-
!Year
!Year
!Title<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2394503/|title=Eliane Raheb|website=IMDb|access-date=2016-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers|last=Hillauer|first=Rebecca|publisher=American University in Cairo Press|year=2000|isbn=|location=Cairo, Egypt|page=435|quote=|via=ProQuest ebrary}}</ref>
!Title<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2394503/|title=Eliane Raheb|website=IMDb|access-date=2016-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers|last=Hillauer|first=Rebecca|publisher=American University in Cairo Press|year=2000|location=Cairo, Egypt|page=435|via=ProQuest ebrary}}</ref>
!Role
!Role
!Notes
!Notes
Line 101: Line 104:
|2016
|2016
|''Those Who Remain''
|''Those Who Remain''
|director, producer
|documentary
|-
|2021
|''[[Miguel's War]]''
|director, producer
|director, producer
|documentary
|documentary
|}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of female film and television directors]]


==References==
==References==
Line 114: Line 125:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Raheb, Eliane}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raheb, Eliane}}
⚫
[[Category:Lebanese women film directors]]
⚫
[[Category:Lebanese documentary film directors]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
⚫
[[Category:Lebanese documentary film directors]]
⚫
[[Category:Lebanese women film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Women documentary filmmakers]]
[[Category:Women documentary filmmakers]]

Latest revision as of 10:02, 5 November 2024

Eliane Raheb
إليان الراهب
Born1972 (1972)
Lebanon
Occupations

Eliane Raheb (Arabic: إليان الراهب; born 1972) is a documentary filmmaker and director from Lebanon.[1] She made her debut as a director with her 2012 film, Layali Bala Noom (Sleepless Nights).[1] Her latest film is Miguel's War from 2021. That film received the Teddy Award for best LGBTW film at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival.[2]

Early life and education

[edit]

Eliane Raheb was born in 1972 in Lebanon, where she spent most of her youth during the Lebanese Civil War. In a 2014 interview, Raheb described her youth during the war: "I remember moving from one place to the next in search of shelter, like everyone else at the time. We lived through hard and painful moments. Despite that, we prevailed: we went to school and carried on with our lives... I will never forget the days of social harmony, when everyone would help the other." She was 19 when the war ended.[3]

Raheb's grandfather owned a theatre in Zahlé that sparked her interest in film. She said her family often took refuge in her grandfather's theatre during the war and would watch films there.[4] She began acting in theatre,[when?] working with Roger Assaf.[citation needed] Alongside acting, she began to write and direct theatre.[5] Raheb then moved from theatre to film, studying at IESAV in Beirut.

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Raheb's directorial debut was her 1995 short film The Last Screening, which revolves around the relationship between a girl and her grandfather's theatre.[1] Raheb directed the 2002 documentary So Near Yet So Far, which is about the February 6 Intifada that squashed the hopes of visiting neighbouring countries for children living in Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan.[1]

Suicide (2003) documents the Lebanese response to the American invasion of Iraq, depicting intelligence agencies involved and those in Lebanon who accepted Iraqi propaganda and joined the fight.[1]

With her 2008 documentary This Is Lebanon, Raheb documented the re-emergence of violence in Lebanon.[1] The film follows the resistance against the establishment and the patriarchal family structure, which Raheb says are partly to blame for the political and religious sectarianism in Lebanon.[1] This Is Lebanon was broadcast internationally on television by ARTE, ZDF, and Al Jadeed.[1]

Sleepless Nights

[edit]

In her 2012 documentary Sleepless Nights, Raheb explores the amnesty law that was granted to people who committed political crimes during the war and its effects on the victims and the perpetrators of these crimes.[6] To that end, Sleepless Nights depicts the lives of Assaad Chaftari, an ex-intelligence officer and a high-ranking member of a right-wing militia, who killed many people; and Maryam Saiidi, whose son went missing in 1982.[7] Raheb devised Sleepless Nights after taking an interest in Chaftari's story.[8] Through her research and interview with him, Eliane covered the two conflicting narratives that are present in the film.[8]

When Sleepless Nights was released, it had trouble getting large-scale distribution in Lebanon due to its documentarian nature.[vague] Instead, the film was screened in three Lebanese theatres through individual efforts on behalf of Raheb and her supporters. Future Television criticized Sleepless Nights, calling it a "failure" for having less than 700 views within one week of its release. However, the film was acclaimed and screened on various platforms, such as the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel and Al Jadeed.[9] Jay Weissberg, writing for Variety, said, "It's hard to find a Lebanese film that doesn’t focus on the bloody civil war. And yet it is even harder to find a film that treats this topic better than Sleepless Nights."[6]

Those Who Remain

[edit]

Her 2018 documentary Those Who Remain, which was screened[year needed] at more than 20 festivals, is about a 60-year old Christian farmer living in North Lebanon who is struggling to stay in his land amid sectarian tensions. Raheb said, "I wanted to give the land a political, not only geographical, meaning".[10]

Miguel's War

[edit]

In 2021, Raheb produced and directed Miguel's War, a hybrid documentary which follows a gay man who returns to Lebanon after 37 years in exile in Spain.[11] The film received the Teddy Award for best LGBTQ film at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival.[2]

Other work

[edit]

Raheb also supports the Lebanese film community by teaching filmmaking at the Saint Joseph University in Beirut and being active in Lebanese cultural organizations.[1][12]

In 1999, she founded Beirut DC, a cultural association that supports and promotes the work of independent filmmakers in Lebanon through co-production and screenings.[13] Viola Shafik, author of Arab Cinema: History and Cultural Identity, referred to Raheb's association Beirut DC as a "backbone of Lebanese alternative film art".[13] Raheb has also been the artistic director of the Beirut Cinema Days film festival for six editions. "Ayam Bayrut al-sinim'iya" considered her touring Arab Film Week among her association's most effective cultural initiatives.[13]

Together with producer Nizar Hassan, who produced Sleepless Nights, Raheb founded Free Arabs (2011-2012), an international multimedia documentary film project.[1] Free Arabs produced 160 short films, all of which were made by young filmmakers from seven countries that took part in the Arab Spring.[1] All 160 short documentaries, which depict the lives of Arabs during the revolutions, were published online.[7] Raheb's Lebanese-based production company Itar Productions is active throughout the Arab world.[14]

Style and themes

[edit]

Raheb is interested in Lebanese experiences. Commenting on her own work, Raheb stated, "In the absence of a film industry structure in Lebanon, short films have performed the invaluable task of chronicling life in Lebanon after the war. They provide the material for a potential cinema."[15] She described that cinema is a tool that should be used to unravel Lebanon's past.[3]

Raheb's childhood largely influenced her work. She said she "never understood the little wars within the big one".[16] Later, she said, "The war lingers in my head, and I always search for it traces. So I wanted to ask my questions on the screen". She began working on her first socio-political documentary in 2000.[16]

Raheb said of her objective style in Sleepless Nights: "In the field of cinema, objectivity is a big lie. I tried to be as objective as possible. That is why I did not make a film about the Lebanese Civil War. Rather, I made a film about two people who lived through the war. I began from that reality, to tell their story, not mine. This film is not a biased journalistic report; rather it is a creative work that identifies with the human: her emotions, fears, and dreams."[5]

Because of its political nature, Raheb's work is largely documentary. She said; "I learned; ... through documentary, how to bring back the fiction ... so I am dealing with an issue that is important, but I am having real characters instead of having actors; but if I want to be cinematic, I have to deal with them as if they are characters in a film ... I have to give them the time to develop their own story with a dramatical line".[4]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Raheb's documentary This Is Lebanon received the Excellency Award at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.[7] At the Mumbai Film Festival, Suicide garnered second place;[1] Sight & Sound included the film in its list of the 25 best international films of 2013.[1] Suicide also won competitions including the Human Rights Prize at the Cine Invisible festival in Bilbao, Spain; an award for documentary films at the Birds Eye View Festival in London, and the full-length film competition at the LAIFF Festival in Argentina.[1][better source needed] Those Who Remain won the Special Jury Prize Muhr Feature Award at the 13th Dubai International Film Festival.[17]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title[18][19] Role Notes
1995 The Last Screening director short film
1996 Encounter director short film
2001 So Near Yet So Far director documentary
2003 Suicide director documentary
2008 This is Lebanon director, writer documentary
2012 Sleepless Nights director, executive producer and researcher documentary
2016 Those Who Remain director, producer documentary
2021 Miguel's War director, producer documentary

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Berliner Künstlerprogramm | Biography: Raheb, Eliane". www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  2. ^ a b ""Miguel's War" erhält Teddy Award". www.rbb24.de (in German). 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  3. ^ a b Ltief, Gaby (2014-09-05). "المخرجة اللبنانية إليان الراهب تعرض «ليالٍ بلا نوم» في باريس: "لم أفهم هذه الحروب الصغيرة داخل الحرب الكبيرة!"". MC Doualiya (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  4. ^ a b inpettofilm. “Eliane Raheb - Gast Des Berliner Künstlerprogramms Des DAAD 2015.” YouTube, YouTube, 5 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7IiD3xKdnw.
  5. ^ a b توبي هناء. “إليان الراهب: الموضوعية السينمائية كذبة كبيرة.” صحيفة الخليج, 30 Mar. 2015, www.alkhaleej.ae/alkhaleej/page/5ddb31c4-fbc9-4211-878e-f1782bca4d71.
  6. ^ a b Weissberg, Jay (2012-12-22). "Review: 'Sleepless Nights'". Variety. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  7. ^ a b c "Screening of Sleepless Nights, a film directed by Eliane Raheb | Watson Institute". watson.brown.edu. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  8. ^ a b Beirut, Ayam. “A Chat with Eliane Raheb, Director of 'Sleepless Nights' (English Subtitles).” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwOMKIm2dk8.
  9. ^ "إليان الراهب ترد على المستقبل: تقرير تافه وغير دقيق". Elfann.com. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
  10. ^ Berlin, Alfilm. “Interview with Director Eliane Raheb.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Apr. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3OuJciROpg.
  11. ^ "Miguel's War with director Eliane Raheb, in conversation with Sabine El Chamaa". Center for Human Rights and the Arts. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  12. ^ Armes, R..Arab Filmmakers of the Middle East: A Dictionary. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2010. Project MUSE
  13. ^ a b c Shafik, Viola. Arab Cinema : History and Cultural Identity (New Revised Edition) (New Revised). Cairo, EG: American University in Cairo Press, 2000. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 5 December 2016.
  14. ^ "Sleepless nights". Doha Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  15. ^ Khatib, Lina. Tauris World Cinema : Lebanese Cinema : Imagining the Civil War and Beyond. London, US: I.B.Tauris, 2008. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 5 December 2016.
  16. ^ a b "بدون قناع - المخرجة اللبنانية إليان الراهب تعرض «ليالٍ بلا نوم» في باريس: "لم أفهم هذه الحروب الصغيرة داخل الحرب الكبيرة!"". مونت كارلو الدولية / MCD. May 9, 2014.
  17. ^ “DIFF Awards 2016.” Dubai Film Fest, dubaifilmfest.com/en/page/387/muhr_awards_2016.html.
  18. ^ "Eliane Raheb". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  19. ^ Hillauer, Rebecca (2000). Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers. Cairo, Egypt: American University in Cairo Press. p. 435 – via ProQuest ebrary.
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