<span>Set in the mountains of Lebanon at the start of the </span><span>Israeli invasion, </span><span><em>1982</em></span><span> is the debut feature by director Oualid Mouaness,</span><span> starring </span><span>Nadine Labaki, whose 2018 film </span><span><em>Capernaum</em></span><span> was nominated for an Oscar.</span> <span>But when</span><span> </span><span><em>The National</em></span><span> caught up with Mouaness</span><span>, who</span><span>se film is in post-production</span><span>, he </span><span>acknowledged the work of the whole cast. "The film </span><span>is a collective of all these actors</span><span> and </span><span>yes it stars Nadine Labaki</span><span>, but there are all these kids who are driving the film," he said.</span><span> </span> <span><em>1982</em></span><span> focuses on Wissam, 11, </span><span>a boy who has a crush on his classmate Joanna. But before he can muster up the courage to tell her how he feels, </span><span>and with </span><span>his class is in the midst of their final exams, the air invasions on Beirut begin and the </span><span>pupils are sent home. Could there be a bit of young Mouaness in the story</span><span>? </span> <span>"It's completely autobiographical</span><span>. It is actually based on my last day of school in Lebanon, in 1982, before we had to leave the country</span><span>," he said. </span> <span>"The film in its entirety takes place in one location, in the school, during the course of one day</span><span>, and that school is in the mountains in Lebanon</span><span>."</span> <span>While Mouaness has previously directed </span><span>two shorts, including</span><span> </span><span><em>The Rifle, the Jackal, the Wolf and the Boy</em></span><span>, which was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2017</span><span>, he is be</span><span>tter known as a documentary, features and music video producer. His credits include</span><span> a 2008 documentary </span><span>about Paris Hilton directed by Adria Petty, as well as videos for Rihanna, Katy Perry</span><span> and David Bowie</span><span>.</span> <span>Mouaness grew up </span><span>in Lebanon and Liberia, </span><span>received his undergraduate degree from the Lebanese American University in Beirut, acquired his Master of Fine Arts in </span><span>writing and </span><span>directing from Florida State University, and is a Sundance Screenwriting Fellow. He </span><span>now lives and works in Los Angeles.</span> <span><em>1982</em></span><span> </span><span>marks his first foray into feature films</span><span> and took eight years to make, </span><span>while he also work</span><span>ed on other projects</span><span>. </span><span>But how does a first</span><span>-time feature director </span><span>recruit a high-profile actress such as Labaki? "I've known Nadine for a while," Mouaness sa</span><span>id. "I talked to her about this way back in 2013</span><span>. </span><span>She read the script and liked it a lot</span><span>."</span><span> </span> <span>Once </span><span>Mouaness was ready to begin filming, he </span><span>contacted Labaki and "asked if she still wanted to do it, and she said 'absolutely</span><span>.'" Labaki </span><span>shot her scenes </span><span>during breaks from editing </span><span><em>Capernaum</em></span><span>.</span> <span>When asked where the premiere </span><span>will</span><span> take place, Mouaness</span><span> said he was not short of options. "I </span><span>have the tough, but privileged choice of several fest</span><span>ivals</span><span>," he said.</span> <span>Depending on how long it </span><span>takes to make the finishing touches </span><span>to </span><span><em>1982</em></span><span>, </span><span>the premiere will</span><span> most likely be held at </span><span>a film festival </span><span>such as Venice, Toronto or Sundance. "I can't wait to share it with the world," </span><span>Mouaness said.</span> <span>Mo</span><span>re importantly perhaps, the director said the film "really posits Lebanese actors in a way they have not seen themselves before</span><span>".</span> <span>He said he was excited for his cast to see themselves on screen. </span><span>"Some of them have only two scenes, but they come in and move you</span><span>," he said.</span> <em>1982 </em>is written by Mouaness and co-produced by his company Tricycle Logic and Georges Schoucair's Beirut-based Abbout Productions.