Mai Masri is an award-winning Palestinian filmmaker, director, and producer who has made over a dozen feature films and documentaries. Born in Beirut in 1964, Masri has spent her career exploring the complexities of the human condition in the Middle East, and has become one of the most important voices in the region's filmmaking industry.
Masri began her career as an independent producer and director in 1989. Her first documentary, Children of Fire (1990), focused on the impact of the Lebanese Civil War on children. The documentary won numerous awards, including the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Golden Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival.
In 1993, Masri released her first feature-length film, 3000 Nights, which explored the lives of political prisoners in an Israeli jail. The film was well-received, and won the Jury Prize at the Carthage Film Festival and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Venice Film Festival, among other awards.
Masri has since gone on to direct several other feature films and documentaries. These include the award-winning docudrama Frontiers of Dreams and Fears (2001), which explored the lives of children living in the occupied Palestinian territories, and the documentary Beirut Diaries (2006), which explored the lives of people in the city during the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon.
In addition to her film work, Masri has also been involved in activism and advocacy. She has worked with organizations such as the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, and she has served as a spokesperson for the Palestinian cause.
Throughout her career, Masri has received numerous awards and honors, including the Grand Prize for Best Documentary at the Amiens International Film Festival (2009), the Golden Apricot at the Yerevan International Film Festival (2009), and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Arab Cinema Festival (2010).
Masri has been featured in numerous publications, and her work has been screened at festivals around the world. She continues to be an important voice in the Middle East, and her work is a testament to her commitment to telling stories of the region.
