Career

Born and raised in Beirut

Beirut

Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...

, Aractingi has made more than 40 films throughout his career, ranging from reports and documentaries to more personal and fictional films, all taking place in various countries around the world.
His topics of predilection – identity, immigration, exile and travel – are broadly explored in his fictional work, as well as in his documentaries.
A film director with numerous facets, Aractingi finds his originality from his various cultures, which allows him to pass easily from one style to another, from thrilling fantasy to exigent realism.
Philippe Aractingi currently lives between Lebanon and France.

Bosta

After 12 years in France, he returned to Lebanon to produce and direct his first feature film "Bosta," the first post-war musical since the return of peace in Lebanon.
To make this film, Aractingi decided to turn to regional investors and created a breakthrough with regards to production in the Middle East. The film was a prime example of a truly independent Lebanese production, and in essence, pushed the Lebanese audience to link back up with their national cinema, which had been asleep during 17 years of civil war. Released in 2005/2006, "Bosta" attracted record level crowds, quickly climbing to the number one slot in the Lebanese box office in 2006 with over 140,000 entries and 22 weeks of screening. “Bosta" has been released in over twenty countries and was selected to represent Lebanon at the 2006 Oscars Academy Awards.

Under the Bombs

In July 2006, as war once again ravaged his country, Aractingi reacted, in the heat of the moment, by shooting his second feature film: “Under the Bombs.”
There were only four actors, Nada Abou Farhat, Georges Khabbaz, Rawya El Chab et Bshara Atallah; all of the others, refugees, journalists, military, religious and militants were playing their own role. All were caught in the turmoil and in the ruins of a war-torn Lebanon and all were living with this new tragedy as an intimate part of themselves.
Made with urgency, from its conception to its completion, "Under the Bombs" took less than a year to make. Selected to participate in the 64th Venice Film Festival, Sundance and Dubai Film Festivals, the film has won more than 22 prizes so far, including the Human Rights Film Award in Venice, and the Golden Muhr for Best Film and Best actress in the Dubai Film Festival.

Both “Bosta” and “Under the Bombs” have been selected for the Oscar, representing Lebanon.

Filmography

Main films :

• Under the bombs
  Under the Bombs
  Under the Bombs is a 2007 Lebanese drama film by the Lebanese director Philippe Aractingi. The film is set in the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon War, and follows Zeina , a Lebanese woman who with help of taxi driver Tony tries to locate her son in the chaos that follows the end of the conflict.The...
  
  , 2007 (Feature film - 93’)
  • Drama Award, Prize for Best Film, One World Media Award, London, 2009
  • Golden Muhr Award, Prize for Best Film and Best Actrice, Dubai Film Festival, 2007
  • EIUC Human Rights Film Award, Venice Film Festival , 2007
  • Price of the Critique and Price, Antalya Film Festival, 2007
  • Junior Price for Best Film, Namur Film Festival, 2007
  • Fipresci of the International Critic, Bratislava Film Festival, 2008
• Bosta (L'autobus), 2005 (Feature film -111’)
• The Dream of the Acrobat Child, 1995 (Documentary - 52’)
  • Grand Price of the Jury at the du Jury Beyrouth film Festival (1997)
• Beirut of Stones and Memories, (Beyrouth de pierres et de mémoire) 1993 ( Essay -18’)
  • Gold Medal of the Jeux de la Francophonie – Paris (1994)
  • Special Mention of the Jury at the Journées du Cinéma Africain et Créole - Montréal (1995)
• Libre vol, 1993 (Short film 18’)
  • Price of the Jury at the Festival International du Vol - St Hilaire (1991)
• Through Mothers’ Eyes (Min Ouioun el Oumahat), 1992 (Documentary 52’)
  • Official Selection at the Lyons Festival 1992

Writer:

• Les mères à l'épreuve du Liban
• Book - Co-writer Léla Chikhany Nacouz / Publisher L'Harmattan

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