Wissam Smayra
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Wissam Smayra is a renowned Lebanese filmmaker and screenwriter celebrated for his significant contributions to the film industry. His notable works include the Netflix hit PERFECT STRANGERS and Nadine Labaki's critically acclaimed and
Academy Award-nominated film CAPERNAUM, on which he served as an executive producer.
Smayra's early life was shaped by the harsh realities of the Lebanese Civil War, where his family lost their home due to bombing. These experiences fostered a deep resilience and a passion for storytelling that led him to pursue cinema studies in Beirut.
Shortly after graduation, he began his professional career in advertising, quickly rising to prominence as a creative director, directing over 800 commercials and winning numerous awards, including accolades at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Epica Awards, and Dubai Lynx.
In 2003, his filmmaking journey began with the short film NON MÉTRAGE LIBANAIS, which he co-wrote and directed alongside Ghassan Koteit, featuring the renowned Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki.
Years later, he executive produced CAPERNAUM, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving a 15-minute standing ovation and winning the Jury Prize. Afterward, the film went on to achieve phenomenal success, being nominated for an Academy Award and screened at numerous film festivals, winning about 40 awards.
In 2022, Smayra made his feature film directorial debut with PERFECT STRANGERS, an Arabic adaptation of the Italian film PERFETTI SCONOSCIUTI. This film, which stars some A-listers from the Arab world, including Mona Zaki, Nadine Labaki, and Eyad Nassar, marked the first original Arabic film for Netflix. The film also sparked important discussions around social issues in the Arab world and topped Netflix's charts as the most-viewed film in the Arab world for an entire month.
Throughout his career, Smayra has collaborated with major brands, including Vodafone, and Cariter, and artists like Ragheb Alama, Myriam Fares, and Jean-Jacques Goldman, further solidifying his influence as a significant contributor to the cultural and entertainment landscape in the Arab world and beyond.
Smayra's early life was shaped by the harsh realities of the Lebanese Civil War, where his family lost their home due to bombing. These experiences fostered a deep resilience and a passion for storytelling that led him to pursue cinema studies in Beirut.
Shortly after graduation, he began his professional career in advertising, quickly rising to prominence as a creative director, directing over 800 commercials and winning numerous awards, including accolades at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Epica Awards, and Dubai Lynx.
In 2003, his filmmaking journey began with the short film NON MÉTRAGE LIBANAIS, which he co-wrote and directed alongside Ghassan Koteit, featuring the renowned Lebanese director and actress Nadine Labaki.
Years later, he executive produced CAPERNAUM, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving a 15-minute standing ovation and winning the Jury Prize. Afterward, the film went on to achieve phenomenal success, being nominated for an Academy Award and screened at numerous film festivals, winning about 40 awards.
In 2022, Smayra made his feature film directorial debut with PERFECT STRANGERS, an Arabic adaptation of the Italian film PERFETTI SCONOSCIUTI. This film, which stars some A-listers from the Arab world, including Mona Zaki, Nadine Labaki, and Eyad Nassar, marked the first original Arabic film for Netflix. The film also sparked important discussions around social issues in the Arab world and topped Netflix's charts as the most-viewed film in the Arab world for an entire month.
Throughout his career, Smayra has collaborated with major brands, including Vodafone, and Cariter, and artists like Ragheb Alama, Myriam Fares, and Jean-Jacques Goldman, further solidifying his influence as a significant contributor to the cultural and entertainment landscape in the Arab world and beyond.
