Biography: MAI MASRI

Mai Masri  is a Palestinian filmmaker with a Bachelor's degree in film from San Francisco State University. She has directed, photographed and edited several award-winning documentaries, which were broadcast on more than 100 television stations around the world including BBC, Channel 4, PBS, France 2, SBS, YLE, MBC and NHK. With her husband, filmmaker Jean Chamoun she set up Nour productions and MTC. 

Films Directed:
 
FRONTIERS OF DREAMS AND FEARS (Ahlam al-Manfa) 2001/56’ Produced in association with ITVS with funding provided by CPB.
The story of two Palestinian refugee girls, Manar from Dheisha camp in Palestine and Mona from Shatila camp in Lebanon. The film focuses on their lives and dreams and on their extraordinary journey to the borders of exile separating them from their homeland and from each other.
_ First Prize, International Women’s Film Festival, Torino, Italy
_ Excellence Award, Tokyo Global Environmental Film Festival, Japan
_ Earth Vision Award, Tokyo, Japan
_  First Prize at Ismailia International Film Festival, 2001
_ Special Jury Award, Beirut International Film Festival, 2001
_  Best Film Award, Egyptian Film Critics Association, 2001
_ Best Documentary Award, Egyptian Documentary Filmmakers Association

CHILDREN OF SHATILA  (Atfal Shatila) 1989/50’/NOUR / Channel 4
Portrait of two Palestinian children (Farah and Issa) growing up in Beirut’s Shatila camp. Broadcast on Channel 4 (UK) and on 10 television stations world-wide. 
-   Best Director Award, Arab Screen Film Festival, London 1999
-	Best Camera Award, Arab Screen Film Festival, London 1999
-	Nominated for AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AWARD, Amsterdam 1998
-	Special Mention at CMCA, Palermo 1998

HANAN ASHRAWI: A WOMAN OF HER TIME (Imraa’ Fi Zaman at-Tahaddi) 1995/50"/NOUR /TVE/ONE WORLD/MED MEDIA 
Documentary on Hanan Ashrawi, the Palestinian spokeswoman and human rights activist. Broadcast on 42 television stations around the world.
- Won Best Documentary, One World Media Awards, London, UK, 1996.
-	Award of the Public at IMA festival in Paris, 1996. 
-	CMCA Award for Best Documentary at Palermo, Italy, 1997

SUSPENDED DREAMS  (Ahlam Mu’allakah) 1992/50"/TVE, MTC for BBC2
Co-directed by Mai Masri and Jean Chamoun
Through the eyes of two ex-militia fighters, a critical playwright and a woman looking for her kidnapped husband, this documentary looks at a Beirut community rebuilding its life after 16 years of war. The film was part of the BBC/TVE -Developing Stories series, which was broadcast on 100 television stations around the world. 
- Won Grand Prix at FIMA Film Festival in Paris, 1993.
- Won Gold Award, Damascus Film Festival in 1993. 

CHILDREN OF FIRE  (Atfal Jabal an-Nar) 1990 / 50" / MTC for BBC2
Palestinian director Mai Masri returns to Nablus, her hometown on the occupied West Bank, after an absence of 14 years. Filmed under curfew at the height of the Palestinian uprising, the film tells the story of the children of a city under siege.
- Won First Prize, Cairo Television Festival (1995)
-	Won Award of Public, Feminin Pluriel Festival in France.
-	Nominated for AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AWARD, Amsterdam 1992

WAR GENERATION-BEIRUT (Jil el-Harb) 1988/50"/IBT and MTC for BBC1 
Co-directed by Mai Masri and Jean Chamoun 
Documentary on three generations of young people growing up in war-torn Beirut. Broadcast on BBC-INSIDE STORY in UK, and on 20 television stations around the world. 
- Bronze Apple Award, National Educational Film Festival, USA,1990.

WILD FLOWERS: WOMEN OF SOUTH LEBANON  (Zahrat al-Kindoul) 1986 / MTC / CH4
Co-directed by Mai Masri and Jean Chamoun 
Documentary on the women of South Lebanon resisting Israeli occupation.
-	Special Jury andBest Music Awards at Valencia Film Festival in 1987. 
-	Critics Award at Carthage 
-	Special Jury Award at Damascus Film Festival.

UNDER THE RUBBLE (That al-Anqadh) 1983/40/ MTC
Co-directed by Mai Masri and Jean Chamoun 
Documentary on the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and siege of Beirut. Broadcast in 15 countries.
- Special Jury Award, Valencia Film Festival1983.

Films Produced: 

IN THE SHADOWS OF THE CITY (Taif al-Madina) 2000/90’/Nour Productions/Ciné Sud-France)
Directed by Jean Chamoun, Produced by Mai Masri.
Feature film about the story of Rami, a boy growing up in a country at war. 
-	Special Jury Award, CANNES Junior 2000.
-	Al-Andalus Satellite Award, Tetouan, 2001
-	Special Mention, Carthage film festival 2000

HOSTAGE OF TIME  (Rahinat al-Intithar) 1994/50"/MTC/Future TV 
Directed by Jean Chamoun, produced by Mai Masri
Documentary on South Lebanon through the eyes of a young woman doctor
- Silver Award, FIPA Television Festival, Cannes, France, 1995.
- Film Critics Award at Ismailia Film Festival,  Egypt, 1995.