Ali Hammoud is an acclaimed film and television director from Lebanon. He is best known for his work on the 2019 drama film, Capharnaum, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
Hammoud was born in Lebanon in 1974. He studied at the Lebanese University in Beirut, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Sciences. After graduating, he spent several years working as a freelance director, taking on a variety of projects including television commercials, short films, and music videos.
In 2009, Hammoud made his feature-length directorial debut with the drama film, The Kite, which earned him considerable acclaim. The film was selected for the Miami International Film Festival and the Dubai International Film Festival.
In 2016, Hammoud released his second feature film, Very Big Shot, which earned him international recognition. The film won the Audience Award at the Venice Film Festival and the Best Arab Film Award at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
In 2018, Hammoud released his third feature film, Capharnaum, which was met with critical acclaim. The film won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2019.
Throughout his career, Hammoud has become known for his ability to tell complex stories with a sense of empathy and humanity. His films often explore themes of poverty and social inequality and focus on the lives of children, particularly those living in underprivileged communities.
Hammoud has said that his goal is to create films that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. He has stated that he believes “films should be made to reflect reality, to make us think, to tell stories of human resilience, to explore the unknown, and to challenge our perceptions.”
Hammoud’s work has been praised by critics all over the world, and he has been credited with bringing a unique voice to the world of independent cinema. He continues to explore the human experience with his work, and his films have been widely acclaimed for their emotional depth and insight.
