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Co-presented by the Arab American National Museum
Our comedy shorts program returns with a selection of sharp, witty, and imaginative films that serve as conduits for social commentary. This year's characters must deal with increasingly absurd situations in pursuit of simple (and some not-so-simple) desires, whether they are trying to steal a kiss, manage a construction site, or bring a horse up to an apartment. However, their efforts are thwarted by the people around them, who are not so understanding of their endeavors...
While guarding his aunt’s house in a remote Lebanese village one night, Anis is forced to pretend he is a thief to save his life from a break-in.
Festivals & Awards: Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2024, Independent Shorts Awards - Official Selection 2023
About the Filmmaker:
Dwan Kaoukji is Lebanese and was born and raised in Kuwait. She is a social scientist by profession and recently began exploring her career as a filmmaker. Canary in a Coal Mine is her first short fictional film.
Prior to this film, Dwan directed a short documentary for BBC World Service called "The Soul of the Rose" that explore the lives of natural perfumers in Northern India. The documentary was broadcast on the BBC World Service and on the BBC World News website in 2016.
- Year2023
- Runtime20 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountryLebanon
- PremiereUS Premiere
- GenreComedy
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorDwan Kaoukji
- ScreenwriterDwan Kaoukji
- Executive ProducerJosef Khallouf
- CastJosef Akiki, Fadi Abi Samra, Ahmad Ghossein
- CinematographerPol Seif
- EditorSimon Habre
- Production DesignRime Al Jabr
Co-presented by the Arab American National Museum
Our comedy shorts program returns with a selection of sharp, witty, and imaginative films that serve as conduits for social commentary. This year's characters must deal with increasingly absurd situations in pursuit of simple (and some not-so-simple) desires, whether they are trying to steal a kiss, manage a construction site, or bring a horse up to an apartment. However, their efforts are thwarted by the people around them, who are not so understanding of their endeavors...
While guarding his aunt’s house in a remote Lebanese village one night, Anis is forced to pretend he is a thief to save his life from a break-in.
Festivals & Awards: Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2024, Independent Shorts Awards - Official Selection 2023
About the Filmmaker:
Dwan Kaoukji is Lebanese and was born and raised in Kuwait. She is a social scientist by profession and recently began exploring her career as a filmmaker. Canary in a Coal Mine is her first short fictional film.
Prior to this film, Dwan directed a short documentary for BBC World Service called "The Soul of the Rose" that explore the lives of natural perfumers in Northern India. The documentary was broadcast on the BBC World Service and on the BBC World News website in 2016.
- Year2023
- Runtime20 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountryLebanon
- PremiereUS Premiere
- GenreComedy
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorDwan Kaoukji
- ScreenwriterDwan Kaoukji
- Executive ProducerJosef Khallouf
- CastJosef Akiki, Fadi Abi Samra, Ahmad Ghossein
- CinematographerPol Seif
- EditorSimon Habre
- Production DesignRime Al Jabr