The 47th Cairo International Film Festival features a special screening of the Lebanese film Home Bitter Home (مرمر مكاني), directed by a collective of six filmmakers to examine the personal and professional struggles of artists attempting to sustain their creative ambitions amid the ongoing crises in Beirut.
The Bottom Line
- The Project: Developed and produced by Georges Hachem, the film weaves together the personal portraits of five lesser-known artists in their late thirties.
- The Creative Team: Written and directed by Ghna Bou Abboud, Naim Haghour, Aline Oueiss, Salim Mourad, Jihane Saade, and Marie-Rose Osta.
- The Distribution: MAD Distribution handles the film’s release across the Arab world, while MAD World manages international sales outside the region.
Creative Collaboration Behind Home Bitter Home
Conceived, developed, and produced by Georges Hachem, Home Bitter Home brings together the distinct visions of six directors. The film centers on five artists in their late thirties who remain largely unfamiliar to wide audiences. Their individual hardships mirror the systemic and economic pressures fracturing Beirut, capturing the friction between daily survival and artistic expression.
The collaborative direction and writing team comprises Ghna Bou Abboud, Naim Haghour, Aline Oueiss, Salim Mourad, Jihane Saade, and Marie-Rose Osta. The narrative features performances by Sarah Fakhri, Hady Daccache, Adham Damachki, Dana Daya, and Dna Mikhail.
Production and Distribution Framework
Behind the camera, the cinematography is managed by Jean Hatem, Elsie Hajar, Jihane Saade, and Jocelyne Abi Gabrael. Editorial duties are shared among Ghna Bou Abboud, Georges Hachem, Naim Haghour, Sandra Faty, Jihane Saade, and Marie-Rose Osta. Sound design credits go to Raed Younan, Hady Daccache, François Yazbeck, John Paul Jalloul, and Victor Brice.
To reach audiences beyond the festival circuit, MAD Distribution secured the rights to distribute the film across the Arab world. Meanwhile, MAD World oversees international sales.
| Production Role | Key Contributors |
|---|---|
| Conception & Production | Georges Hachem |
| Directing & Writing | Ghna Bou Abboud, Naim Haghour, Aline Oueiss, Salim Mourad, Jihane Saade, Marie-Rose Osta |
| Cast | Sarah Fakhri, Hady Daccache, Adham Damachki, Dana Daya, Dna Mikhail |
| Regional Distribution | MAD Distribution |
Director Backgrounds and Festival Trajectory
The creative lineage of the project draws from a diverse group of filmmakers with established roots in regional and international cinema. Hachem previously directed the 2010 feature A Stray Bullet, starring Nadine Labaki, which won the award for Best Arab Film at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Other members of the collective bring independent documentary and experimental backgrounds to the feature.
