From Maroun Bagdadi to Nadine Labaki: Netflix releases curated Lebanon film collection

The Made in Lebanon catalogue aims to highlight the work of Lebanese filmmakers and other works

'Very Big Shot', 'West Beirut', and 'Caramel' are among the films included in a new collection by Netflix titled Made in Lebanon. Kabreet Productions, 3B-productions, Les Films des Tournelles

Netflix is releasing a catalogue of 34 Lebanese films of different genres under a dedicated collection titled Made in Lebanon.

The collection includes the works of critically acclaimed directors such as Maroun Bagdadi, Philippe Aractingi, Randa Chahal Sabbag, Ziad Doueiri, and Nadine Labaki, among others.

The curated collection is meant to pay tribute to the Lebanese creative community, which has made an impressive contribution to the region’s entertainment and cultural milieu.

For instance, the collection brings for the first time restored films by Bagdadi, regarded as one of the best Lebanese filmmakers of his time that were last available more than 30 years ago on VHS. It also includes award-winning films such as Out of Life, West Beirut, Capernaum and many others. Among the collection is also Denis Villeneuve's Oscar-nominated film Incendies, based on the story by Wajdi Mouawad.

Although some of the titles are already available on the platform, starting Monday, October 19, they will be part of one collection of films by Lebanese directors.

"I am especially happy to see Caramel on Netflix, particularly because it was shot on the streets of Beirut and the Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, the heart of the city that was unfortunately decimated. In a sense this is my personal memory of the beautiful streets, the old homes and shops and buildings, of all these places that may never be the same again," said Labaki in a statement.

Bagdadi's wife Souraya also said that when the director depicted the social and political fractures of Lebanese society in his first feature film Bayrouth ya Bayrouth (Beirut oh Beirut) in 1974, he didn't expect how closely it would represent the conflicts leading up to the civil war. Three decades later, his legacy is more relevant than ever, she says.

“Creating this collection allows us to share more stories from the world, with the world, and expose people to content they may not otherwise have a chance to see. The catalogue represents stories from filmmakers from different walks of life, covering a slice of everything that Lebanon represents – love, humour, and beauty," says Nuha El Tayeb, Netflix's director of content acquisitions for Mena and Turkey.

Earlier this month, Netflix announced a $500,000 emergency relief fund in partnership with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture to support the film and TV industry, in light of the pandemic and following the Beirut port explosion.

The Made in Lebanon film list

Out of Life by Maroun Bagdadi

The Little Wars by Maroun Bagdadi

Whispers by Maroun Bagdadi

We are all for the Fatherland by Maroun Bagdadi

Beyrouth ya Beyrouth by Maroun Bagdadi

Heritages by Philippe Aractingi

Listen by Philippe Aractingi

Bosta by Philippe Aractingi

Under the Bombs by Philippe Aractingi

Khabsa by Shady Hanna

Ghadi by Amin Dora

Zozo by Josef Fares (excluding Scandinavia)

Panoptic by Rana Eid

The Kite by Randa Chahal Sabbag (excluding Italy, Monaco, Switzerland)

Taxi Ballad by Daniel Joseph

West Beirut by Ziad Doueiri (excluding France)

Very Big Shot by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya

Heaven without People by Lucien Bourjeily

Stray Bullet by Georges Hachem

Solitaire by Sophie Boutros

Incendies by Denis Villeneuve

Titles only available in the Mena region:

Bel Ghalat by Seif Al Sheikh Najib

Bighamdet Ein by Seif Al Sheikh Najib

Habbet Caramel by Elie F Habib

Max W Antar by Imad Jandali Al Rifa'i

Nut$ by Henri Barges

Tallatit by Kristian Abouanni

Welcome to Lebanon by Saif Al Sheikh Najib

I Want to See by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige

A Perfect Day by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige

Caramel by Nadine Labaki

Capernaum by Nadine Labaki

Single, Married, Divorced by Elie Khalife

Where Do We Go Now? by Nadine Labaki