Director's Works
Medecin du Monde, Elle arrivera jusqu'à toi Jessy Moussallem
Born and raised in Beirut, Jessy Moussallem wrote and directed a music video for pop band
Mashrou’ Leila Roman in 2017 - a film that included one hundred cast members in an ode to
the strength and grace of Arab women. The film trended as number one on YouTube, was
nominated at the UKMVAs and the Cannes Glass Lion, won a Gold Screen for Changing The
World Frame By Frame at the Young Director’s Award and was featured in the Saatchi &
Saatchi New Director Showcase this year curated by Ridley Scott who picked it out as one
of his 5 most inspiring films: “Seeing narratives about people being true to themselves—and
seeing their joy while doing so—is crucial. Moussallem delivers a truly special short that gives
viewers a taste of just that with striking imagery and dance all while having subverting expectations
for where it seems like it is going.”
In 2018, Moussallem continued using her native Lebanon as the backdrop in a study of heroics
and masculinity for French DJ Agoria’s song Embrace and a 15-minute short film on the communities
that cultivate the country’s infamous red hashish for Damian Lazarus’ album Heart of
Sky. She received new nominations at the 2018 UKMVAs, got shortlisted for Best New Director
at The Shots Awards and won a Silver at The 1.4 Award Show.
This determined young director’s work is characterised by the raw humanity of her subjects
and the mastery of her visions, rich with emotion and a nuanced insistence on freedom.
