Biography
Philippe Aractingi: Author, Director, Producer, and Photographer
About Philippe: Philippe Aractingi is a distinguished artist known across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1964, he holds Franco-Lebanese nationality.
Career Highlights: During the late 1970s and early 1980s, amid a war-torn environment with no available audiovisual training, Philippe taught himself filmmaking.
His films "Bosta" and "Under The Bombs" were Lebanon’s sole entries at the 2006 and 2008 Academy Awards, respectively.
His other works have garnered over 40 awards at prestigious international festivals including Venice, Dubai, Thessaloniki, Rotterdam, and Sundance.
A passionate advocate for the arts and Lebanese cinema, Philippe co-founded the Lebanese Cinema Foundation (FLC) and serves as vice-chairman of the Beirut Screen Institute committee.
In 2018, he was honored as Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.
Early Life: Growing up in Beirut during wartime, Philippe received his first camera from his father at age 8. Living on the conflict’s front line, he used photography to document scenes that were later published internationally.
With no formal film education available, Philippe self-educated in filmmaking. At 20, he created his first war documentary in Beirut.
In 1989, recognizing his talent, he moved to Paris and over the next years wrote, directed, and produced more than 40 documentaries and short films, shooting in countries such as France, Morocco, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Egypt, and Mongolia.
Documentaries (1984-2005): At 25, Philippe relocated to Paris, dedicating 12 years to directing, producing, and co-producing over 40 documentaries and shorts. Notable works include "Vol Libre au Liban" (1991), winner of Best Short Film at the Saint-Hilary Film Festival; "Par le Regard des Meres" (1992), which competed at the Lyon Film Festival; and "Beyrouth de Pierre et de Mémoires" (1992), awarded the gold medal at the Jeux de la Francophonie. In 1995, "Le Rêve de l'Enfant Acrobat" won the Grand Jury Prize at the Beirut Film Festival.
Feature Films (2005-2019): Philippe’s first feature film, "Bosta" (2005), was critically acclaimed and attracted over 140,000 viewers in Lebanon. Fully produced and financed by Lebanese contributors, this musical broke traditional war narratives and revitalized Lebanese cinema. It earned eight awards, including Best Screenplay at the Carthage Film Festival, the Golden Murex in Beirut, and Best First Work at the Arab Film Festival Rotterdam.
In 2006, during renewed conflict in Lebanon, he created "Under the Bombs" (released 2008), a film following two actors amidst war-torn Beirut, blending fiction and real testimonies. Distributed in 30 countries, it was nominated at Venice, BAFTA, Dubai, and Sundance film festivals, winning 23 awards such as Best Actress and the Golden Muhr at the Dubai International Film Festival, Best Music and Jury’s Choice at Luchon Festival, and the Fipresci Prize at Bratislava.
In 2014, Philippe wrote and produced "Heritages," a semi-fictional documentary autobiography chronicling 100 years of his family's exiles across four generations. It was nominated at Dubai, Thessaloniki, and FIPA festivals and is studied in over 30 universities worldwide, including Boston University.
His 2017 film "Listen" portrayed a modern love story challenging social norms, focusing on the connection between senses and sensuality. Premiering at Dubai International Film Festival, it stirred strong reactions and was banned in parts of the Arab world but won Best Sound, Best Picture, and Best Director at the Lebanese Movie Awards and represented Lebanon at the 2017 Golden Globes.
Production Company: In 1989, Philippe founded Fantascope, his production company, enabling him to create films in a country with minimal cinematic infrastructure. Fantascope has produced over 100 films broadcast internationally on channels like Discovery, France 2, France 3, and Arte. The company also produces commissioned works for museums, including films for the American University of Beirut’s 150th anniversary, the Central Bank of Lebanon museum, and Middle East Airlines’ in-flight safety videos. In 2019, Philippe directed "Sur les pas du Christ" ("On The Footsteps of Christ"), co-produced with the Maronite Foundation, documenting Christ’s journey in Southern Lebanon.
Photography and Videography: Philippe began photography at age 8, capturing wartime scenes in Beirut. Troubled by the violence, he paused photography for some years before resuming in 2010 with a Paris exhibit titled "Nuit sur Beyrouth," showcasing nighttime images of Beirut, highlighting contrasts between illuminated and darkened city areas due to frequent power outages.
His 2018 exhibit "Obsession" in Beirut depicted the city’s transformation over time, contrasting pre-war peacefulness with wartime devastation and present-day scars. Accompanying the exhibit was "Beirut Through Time," a three-screen installation showing the evolution of the same locations over a century.
Writing: Co-authored "Métier de femme, métier de mère" with Lela Chikhani-Nacouz, an essay portraying the strength and struggles of Lebanese mothers, illustrated in the 1992 work "Through Mother's Eyes." He wrote the screenplay "Nabil le petit étranger," winning the Maroun Baghdadi Prize for Best Script at the International Beirut Festival (1998), received the Beaumarchais grant (1995), and contributed to the CNC advance on production grant commission (1996).
Awards and Recognitions:
- "Par le Regard des Mères" (1992): Official selection at the Nyons Film Festival
- "Beyrouth de Pierre et de Mémoire" (1992): Gold medal, Jeux de la Francophonie (1994); Jury recognition at African and Creole Cinema Days, Montreal (1995)
- "Vol Libre au Liban" (1993): Jury Prize at Saint-Hilaire International Festival (1991); Carat Academy Award (1992)
- "Le Rêve de l'Enfant Acrobate" (1995): Grand Jury Prize, Beirut Film Festival (1997)
- "Listen" (2017): Nominated at Dubai International Film Festival, Lebanese Film Festival Australia, Arab Film Festivals in Minnesota and Germany; won Best Sound, Cinematography, and Director at Lebanese Movie Awards; Alexandria Official Critic Award (Egypt)
- "Heritages" (Mirath) (2014): Nominated at Dubai, FIPA, Thessaloniki; won Silver HAMBRA at Granada Cines del Sur, Audience Award at Arab Film Festival San Francisco, Best Director and Editing at Lebanese Movie Guide Awards (2015)
- "Under the Bombs" (2007/8): 23 awards including Golden Muhr, Best Film, Best Actress at Dubai Festival (2007), EIUC Human Rights Film Award at Venice, Critics and NETPAC Awards in Antalya, FIPRESCI Award at Bratislava, Best Feature at One World Media Awards London (2009)
- "Bosta" (2005/6): Best Scenario at Carthage Festival (2002), Murex D’Or Lebanon, Best First Work at Arab Film Festival Rotterdam, IMA Award for First Feature, Audience Award at Queens International Festival, Young Audience Award at Artemare Festival Corsica.
