Born in 1927 in the city of Tripoli, Georges Nasser embarked on a journey to pursue his passion for cinema, studying at UCLA in Hollywood before returning to his native Lebanon to establish a film industry from scratch. In 1957, Nasser's determination paid off as he directed Ila Ayn (Towards the Unknown),a groundbreaking film that became the first to represent Lebanon in the official competition at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Nasser's remarkable achievement was repeated in 1962 with The Little Stranger, another film selected for competition at Cannes. However, a period of disillusionment and relentlessness followed, marked by the production of his third film, Al Matloub Rajol Wahed (A Man is Needed),shot in Syria in 1975. Despite the film's promising future, the eruption of the Lebanese civil war brought an abrupt end to Nasser's filmmaking career.
Unlike the new wave of young Lebanese filmmakers who captured the war on film, Nasser chose not to follow suit. Instead, he worked as a production manager on foreign films, such as Volker Schlöndorff's Circle of Deceit, and continued to write and seek funding opportunities for his screenplays.
As the years passed, Nasser's film projects remained unrealized due to a lack of funding. Undeterred, he turned his attention to another passion project: the creation of a Lebanese union of film technicians. Unfortunately, his efforts were met with failure due to the incompetence of the state and relevant ministries.
Nasser eventually found a fulfilling career as a teacher at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts (ALBA),where he has been educating new generations of filmmakers for many years. Despite reaching the age of 89, Nasser remains committed to his craft, his eyes shining with enthusiasm when he talks about his love of cinema.
Throughout his life, Nasser has remained steadfast in his dedication to the art of filmmaking, never considering leaving his native Lebanon even in the face of adversity. His remarkable story serves as a testament to his unwavering passion and perseverance in the face of challenges.
