Beirut’s Explosion on 4 August 2020 destroyed most of the city, killed hundreds, and injured many more. However, as always from the ashes of the phoenix, Lebanese ingenuity finds creativity and passion in the darkest of hours. Anthony Merchak, Lebanese film director with over a decade of experience in filmmaking, faced this massacre firsthand and lived to tell the tale in his own cinematic way. And now, his short film “Beirut After 40” has become his ticket to the Oscars.

Beirut After 40 attempts to reconstruct Anthony’s experience during the Beirut explosion 40 days after the incident through a combination of footages from a variety of sources such as CCTV cameras, recorded video calls, and other clips taken during the time of the incident. Moreover, Anthony successfully reconnects with strangers who played important roles during his journey.

The short film is a 25 minute documentary and has been featured in a variety of film festivals worldwide including the Asian Film Festival and the Lebanese Film Festival in Australia. Additionally, it has received a variety of prestigious awards including the Hollywood Gold Award, the HAFF Best Documentary Award, and many others.

Oz Arab Media wishes Anthony Merchak all the best for his nomination.