The Syrians
TFI Suppport
TFI Network 2018
Logline
THE SYRIANS presents existential stories of Syrian refugees in contemporary Beirut: mother-to-be Leena, postcard artist Omar, surfer Ali, and closeted transgender Myriam. Filmmaker Ismaël explores these individuals’ aspirations and struggles as they go through important moments in their lives.
Ismaël Louati
Director
Ismaël is a prolific artist living in Tunis. He co-directed BABYLON with Y. Chebbi and A. Eddine Slim, and the film won the Grand Prix at the FID-Marseille International Film Festival. THE SYRIANS, his next project, won the Dubai-DFC-DIFF awards in December 2017, at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Willy Rollé
Producer
Willy is an emerging producer based in Germany. As a director, he has presented works at national and international film festivals like the World Film Festival in Montreal, Canada. As a producer, he has been supported by the Robert-Bosch Foundation. THE SYRIANS, his latest project, won the Dubai-DFC-DIFF awards in December 2017, at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Justin Pechberty
Producer
Justin Pechberty and D. Megherbi started their company Les Valseurs in 2013 in Paris. They have recently produced João P. M. Maria’s short film MENINAS FORMICIDA (MOSTRA OF VENICE), animation director Ayce Kartal’s KÖTÜ KIZ (screened at Annecy, Toronto TIFF, Ottawa) and co-produced E. Green’s first feature documentary FAIRE LA PAROLE (Torino Film Festival).