{{Short description|Kuwaiti filmmaker}} {{BLP sources|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Farah ALHashim | image = City of Paris, portrait of farah alhashem - Oct 2020.jpg".jpg | caption = | image_size = 150px | birth_date = | birth_place = | occupation = Filmmaker | known_for = Breakfast in Beirut, The Fifth Day, Beirut Borhan, Ces Petits Riens, 7Hours | alma_mater = Panthéon-Sorbonne University | years_active = 2011 - present | website = }} '''Farah ALHashim''' (also Farrah Zaine) is a Kuwaiti-Lebanese filmmaker and journalist based in Paris. ALHashim has been making films since 2011 including ''7 Hours'', which won several awards at film festivals in 2013<ref>[http://news.kuwaittimes.net/kuwaiti-filmmaker-grabs-2-awards-international-fest/ "Kuwaiti filmmaker grabs 2 awards at international fest"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702121948/http://news.kuwaittimes.net/kuwaiti-filmmaker-grabs-2-awards-international-fest/ |date=2018-07-02 }} ''Kuwait Times''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref> and ''Breakfast in Beirut'' in 2015,<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/03/beirut-cinema-paradiso-lebanon-160328180902061.html "Beirut's very own Cinema Paradiso"] ''Al Jazeera''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref> which was honored at multiple festivals.<ref>[https://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/breakfast-in-beirut-nominated-film-of-the-year/ "“Breakfast in Beirut” Nominated Film of the Year"] New York Film Academy. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref><ref>[http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-events/news/archive/lau_inspiration_to_acclaimed_m/ "LAU inspiration to acclaimed movie “Breakfast in Beirut”"] LAU News. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref>
==Early life and education== Born in Kuwait and raised between Beirut,<ref>[http://alqabas.com/222951/ "Farah al-Hashim: Some colleagues do not accept the presence of women"] ''Al Qabas''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref> New York, London and Los Angeles, she holds a degree in journalism from Lebanese American University and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from New York Film Academy.<ref>[https://www.nyfa.edu/film-school-blog/watch-mfa-filmmaking-grad-award-winning-film/ "Watch MFA Filmmaking Grad’s Award-Winning Film"] New York Film Academy. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref> Her parents are Kuwaiti columnist Fouad ALHashem and Lebanese journalist and writer Awatif Zain. *
==Career== In 2013, while working as a diplomatic advisor for Kuwait Mission to the UN in New York, she made her first critically acclaimed short film ''7 hours'', which toured over 31 cities around the world as part of its award as "Best Arab Short Film" at the European Film Festival in Paris, 2014 for the Arab Category. The film was awarded twice more at the Santa Monica Film Festival in California with the "Best Acting" and "Best Screenplay" awards.<ref>[http://www.alraimedia.com/Home/Details?Id=f3c94af0-c809-40b6-8f27-1af394483ffd "Farah al-Hashim to Al-Rai: Lebanon is a Phoenician Bird"] ''Alrai Media''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref>
ALHashim has established her own film house, VioletSkye Films, in 2014 in Beirut. The company is registered in Lebanon as a production company dedicated only in creating content for web and cinema and she gives film courses remotely with CAP in Kuwait.<ref>{{Cite web | title=فرح الهاشم تقيم ورشة سينمائية في المونتاج | url=https://www.alanba.com.kw/ar/art-news/1064816/19-08-2021-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124174930/https://www.alanba.com.kw/ar/art-news/1064816/19-08-2021-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9/ | access-date=2026-01-29 | archive-date=2021-11-24}}</ref>
The official Avant Premiere of ''Breakfast in Beirut'' was held in 2015 at the Metropolis Sofil Theater in Beirut while the official international premiere was in Paris at Le Brady Cinema in April 2016.<ref>[http://www.lebrady.fr/film/118624/ "Breakfast in Beirut"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217025308/https://www.lebrady.fr/film/118624/ |date=2019-12-17 }} Le Brady Cinema. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref> ''Breakfast in Beirut'' received an honorary recognition by the municipality of Treviso, Italy and in collaboration with the Gallery "Made In" Venice, Italy as they decided to name their art festival “''Breakfast in Beirut'' Art Festival" in honor the film and ALHashem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilgazzettino.it/nordest/treviso/treviso_artisti_a_breakfast_in_beirut_in_30_narrano_il_medioriente-1705270.html|title = Artisti a "Breakfast in Beirut" in 30 narrano il Medioriente|date = May 2016}}</ref> She also released unedited footage, behind the scenes of the film under a web-series on YouTube entitled "Beirut Secrets" that follows the life of the filmmaker while living in Beirut. ''Breakfast in Beirut'' was banned at the Kuwait Film Festival.<ref>[http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/kuwaiti-director-surprised-fest-bans-movie/ "Kuwaiti director surprised after fest bans movie"] ''Kuwait Times''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref><ref>[http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/film-festival-bans-tarweeka-concert-emirati-singer-cancelled/ "Film Festival bans ‘Tarweeka’ – Concert of Emirati singer cancelled"] ''Arab Times''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref><ref>[http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/how-about-censoring-censorship/ "How About Censoring Censorship?"] ''Kuwait Times''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref>
In 2018, ALHashim released her second feature film "Ces Petits Riens", which tours International festivals during the fall of 2017<ref>[http://www.aljarida.com/articles/1507569477700114800/ "Al-Hashim Offers Experimental Cinema in "A Story Not Written""] ''Aljaida''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref> and she also released ''Women of Kuwait''.<ref>[http://www.alhayat.com/Articles/13679991/%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-----%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA "Farah Al Hashim prepares for her second feature film ... About Kuwait"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316030613/http://www.alhayat.com/Articles/13679991/%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%84%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-----%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA |date=2018-03-16 }} ''Al Hayat''. Retrieved 2018-03-15.</ref> ALHashem started her doctoral thesis at Jean Moulin University in Lyon on the films of Borhan Alaouie. She started shooting a documentary about Lebanese director Borhan Alaouie in Beirut which premiered in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web | title=المخرجة فرح الهاشم تنتهى من فيلمها التسجيلى الجديد "اليوم الخامس" - اليوم السابع | url=https://www.youm7.com/story/2019/6/23/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B3%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B3/4301096 | access-date=2026-01-29 | website=www.youm7.com}}</ref>
In 2022 ALHashem released award-winning film "Beirut Borhan"<ref>{{cite web |title=Beirut Borhan (2022) |website=The A.V. Club |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511114026/https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/beirut-borhan-2022 |archive-date=2023-05-11 |url-status=live |url=https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/beirut-borhan-2022}}</ref> which received the best film award in Jerusalem international film festival in Palestinian Territories.<ref>https://alarab.news/فيلم-الغريب-يفوز-بأكبر-جوائز-مهرجان-القدس-السينمائي{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The film toured 8 countries in the Arab world and was named by ALJazeera documentary a "powerful film of 2022".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://doc.aljazeera.net/follow-up/2022/10/24/مهرجان-السجادة-الحمراء-أجنحة-السينما | title=مهرجان السجادة الحمراء.. أجنحة السينما المرفرفة في سماء غزة تكسر الحصار }}</ref> ALHashem continuous to push boundaries in cinema and has created a wave of filmmakers who are copying ALHashem's style of filmmaking that is mixing fiction and documentary in a form of a personal narration.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independentarabia.com/node/399166/ثقافة/سينما/بيروت-برهان-يستعيد-سينما-الثمانينيات-وأحد-روادها | title=" بيروت برهان" يستعيد سينما الثمانينيات وأحد روادها | date=5 December 2022 }}</ref>
==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year || Title || Role || Notes |- || 2011 || ''Marilyn Monroe in New York'' || Writer, Director, Producer ||Official Selection in Central Florida Film Festival |- || 2012 || ''La Fraise'' || Writer, Director, Producer ||Premiered in Warner Brothers Studios 2012 |- || 2013 || ''7hours'' || Writer, Director, Producer ||Awarded "Best Arab Short Film" in ECU Film Festival Paris 2014
Awarded "Best Screenplay" in Santa Monica Film Festival 2013
Awarded "Best Acting" in Santa Monica Film Festival 2013
Official Selection Cabriolet Film Festival |- || 2015 || ''Breakfast in Beirut'' || Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematographer ||Nominated Film of the Year - Lebanese Film Fest Australia 2015
Award Best Film - Ministry of Culture - Lebanon 2015
Special Mention - Alexandria international film fest - Egypt 2015
Breakfast in Beirut art festival - 2015-2016 Venice - A festival dedicated to honoring the film. 3 months screening continuously in Venice and Rome
Premiered in Lebanon, Paris, Rome, and Egypt with full house nights. |- || 2018 || ''Ces Petits Riens, Little Nothings'' || Actress, Director, Producer ||Official selection muscat international film festival 2018
Official selection Beirut women international film festival 2018
Official selection Austria film festival 2018
Official selection Vancouver filmdance film festival 2018. |- || 2018 || ''Women of Kuwait'' || Writer, Director, Producer || |- || 2019 || ''Le Cinquième Jour '' || Writer, Director, Producer
|| |- |2022 |''Beirut Borhan '' |Writer, Director, Producer | |- |2024 |''You Me and the Sea '' |Writer, Director, Producer | |}
==Awards and nominations== * 2013 ''7hours'' (short film)'':'' "Best Screenplay" and "Best Actress" at the Women Independent Film Festival Santa Monica in Los Angeles, CA * 2014 ''7hours'' (short film): Official Selection on ECU world Tour at Cannes Short Corner'';'' Official Selection at International Arts Expo, Italy; Official selection at the Cabriolet Film Festival; Official selection at the OnceaweekFilmFestival; "Best Short Film" at the European Independent Film Festival in Paris, France in the Arab World Section * 2014 ''Breakfast in Beirut:'' Official Preview at Metropolis Sofil Theatre (sold out); Honorable Award for ''Breakfast in Beirut'' by the Ministry of Culture, Beirut * 2015 ''Breakfast in Beirut'': "Special Mention from the Jury" section in Nour Sherif for Feature Films at Alexandria and Mediterranean Countries Film Festival, Egypt; "Special Honorable Screening" at Made in. Art Gallery in Venice, Italy; Honorary show at Antoine University, Lebanon; Nominated "Film of the Year" at the Lebanese Film Festival in Sydney, Australia; Among the top five films representing Beirut in the movies according to LAHA Magazine * 2016 ''Breakfast in Beirut:'' Official selection at the International Film Festival Lumiere, Rome; Art Festival in Venice, organized by Made in Gallery and the Municipality of Treviso as an honorable tribute; Official selection at CultFest in Mastre, Italy; Official selection at the Okaz Cultural Art Festival; Official premiere in Paris at the Cinema Le Brady (full house) * 2018 ''Ces Petits Riens, Little Nothings:'' BBC Arabic film of the year * 2019 ''Ces Petits Riens, Little Nothings:'' Official selection at Beirut Women Independent Film Festival * 2020 ''The Fifth Day:'' Official selection at Beirut Women Independent Film Festival; Official selection at the Kuwait International Film Festival * 2020 ''Confined to Paris:'' Official selection at the Beirut DC film festival in Beirut and in collaboration with the French Institute of Lebanon * 2021''The Fifth Day:'' Official selection at the Jerusalem International Film Festival and winner of the Jury Prize in the Palestinian Territories *2022 ''Beirut Borhan:'' Festival and winner of the Best Film in the Palestinian Territories
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hashem, Farah}} Category:Kuwaiti film directors Category:Kuwaiti women film directors Category:Living people Category:Lebanese film directors Category:Lebanese women film directors Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Lebanese American University alumni Category:New York Film Academy alumni