Famous Lebanese actor and comedian George Khabbaz will represent Lebanon for the second time at the Academy Awards this year for the Best Foreign Film Award with his new film, " Waynon" (Void), An-Nahar reported.
The first film he wrote, " Ghadi ", had garnered international attention for bringing the issue of mental health in Lebanon to light.
Last April marked the 40th anniversary to the Lebanese Civil War, a 15-year war that pitted neighbors, friends and even brothers against each other. Lebanon still feels the ripples of that war today as 17,000 remain missing or kidnapped.
Khabbaz' new film tackles the issue of the disappeared through the lens of six women, played by veteran actresses including Carmen Lebbos (" West Beirut," " Zozo ") and Nada Bou Farhat (" Under The Bombs," " Bosta "), who are still looking for their missing loved ones to this day.
The film sheds light on a wider movement regarding the disappeared and their families, who have lobbied for decades for answers from the government, which has time and again thwarted their efforts. It comes as a surprise, then, that the Culture Ministry would nominate this film to the Academy Awards.
The film was produced in collaboration with the Notre Dame University - Louaize (NDU), and was directed by young NDU graduates Naji Bechara, Jad Beiruty, Zeina Makki, Tarek Korkomaz, Christelle Ighniades, Maria Abdl Karim and Salim Habr.
"Waynon" has toured the festival circuit in Sweden, Ireland, New York, Alexandria, and Sydney, where it was awarded Film of the Year Award at the Lebanese Film Festival. The film will be released in Lebanese theaters on Oct. 30.