Nadine Labaki

Nadine Labaki (Arabic: نادين لبكي Nādīn Labikī) is a Lebanese and Canadian actress, director, and activist that has been a powerful voice in the film industry for over 20 years. Being born on February 18, 1974, in Baabdat, Lebanon, she spent the majority of her early life enduring the conflict of the Lebanese Civil War. Her first fascinations with film can be traced back to her family's small theatre and the art of storytelling passed down from her uncle. Despite the circumstances, Labaki was determined and won a prize from a Lebanese talent show for directing music videos in the 90s.

The heart of Labaki's work is in her ability to present everyday aspects of life while covering a range of political issues like war, poverty, and feminism with a unique perspective. She is especially well-known for being the first female Arab director to be nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Foreign Language Film for her work in Capernaum (2018). Her passion for storytelling and dedication to detailed filmmaking has not only awarded her global recognition, but it has also allowed her to successfully use her medium as a form of activism. Labaki's work often casts non-professional actors and presents the audience with a raw and genuine depiction of life's varying degrees of hardness.