Octopus
Spring Grants 2021 - Post-Production Stage
Karim Kassem / Feature Documentary / Lebanon, Sweden, Qatar / 64 min / Original Language: Arabic / Interests: Docufiction, Creative Documentary
Synopsis
A filmmaker arrives to work on his new film and is confronted with a colossal explosion that changes his life, transforming what he can do for himself and his city. ‘Octopus’ explores the aftermath of the Beirut explosion. The city is under construction, and there is a strange eerie nature to how life continues, even in its simplest forms. The filmmaker, a survivor, finds himself drawn to experience and silently narrate what reality felt like to other survivors through a metaphysical lens. A search for meaning ensues…
Credits
- Director
- Karim Kassem
- Screenwriter
- Karim Kassem
- Producer
- Karim Kassem, Johan Matton, Elizabeth Potter
- Production Company
- Screen Productions LLC
About the Director
Born and raised in Beirut, Karim Kassem is an award-winning filmmaker who mainly works between the US and Lebanon on films, music videos, and commercials. His first feature, 'Only the Winds' (2020), was selected for the 50th IFFR and Visions Du Reel 2021. His second feature film 'Octopus' (2021), won best film at IDFA 2021 and a Jury Special Mention award at ZagrebDox 2022. It was supported by the Doha Film Institute and the Red Sea Film Fund. He is currently working on his third feature film titled 'Thiiird' (2022), which was supported by AFAC and DFI.