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Samah El Kadi’s BAADARANE to world premiere at Shorts Mexico, Followed by Screenings at Vancouver International Film Festival
11 September 2025
Lebanese director Samah El Kadi’s latest short film, BAADARANE, had its world premiere on September 10 at Shorts Mexico, where it was featured in the International Fiction Competition. The film will next travel to Canada for its Canadian premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), with two official screenings scheduled:
BAADARANE follows a young boy from Mount Lebanon who grapples with his mother’s sudden death, questioning the foundation of his faith and whether God punishes or saves people. In a series of mischievous challenges spreading anarchy in his tight-knit village, he attempts to hear back from God, yet hears nothing. His growing frustrations turn sinister and violent, as he rejects the religious traditions that once shaped his life.
In the absence of God’s response, he realizes the absurdity of the world around him. His rebellion spirals into darkness in this modern spin on the myth of Prometheus through the eyes of an eight-year-old Druze child from Baadarane.
Written by Nadim Chammas and Samah El Kadi, the film stars Karim Hani, Mounir Malaeb, and Adham Boukaroum. It is lensed by Lluis Ferrer and Marcel Pascual, edited by Gerard Daccache and Nicolas Khoury, with sound design by Tony Khoury. The film is produced by Darine Hotait and Hanna Atala (Cinephilia and Route 243), and supported by Frederic Ephrem at The Filmhouse MENA, and distributed worldwide by MADWorld.
Samah El Kadi is a Lebanese director and screenwriter. A graduate of the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, El Kadi has directed several short films and commercial work for clients including Samsung, Tesla, and Vodafone.He was recently part of the International Emmy-nominated series Stardust, produced by Shahid’s acclaimed 6:07 series. His upcoming projects include the short films Ghostland and Baadarane, as well as his debut feature The Olive Press, currently in development.
- Saturday, October 4th — 8:30 pm at International Village 7
- Sunday, October 5th — 6:15 pm at International Village 7
BAADARANE follows a young boy from Mount Lebanon who grapples with his mother’s sudden death, questioning the foundation of his faith and whether God punishes or saves people. In a series of mischievous challenges spreading anarchy in his tight-knit village, he attempts to hear back from God, yet hears nothing. His growing frustrations turn sinister and violent, as he rejects the religious traditions that once shaped his life.
In the absence of God’s response, he realizes the absurdity of the world around him. His rebellion spirals into darkness in this modern spin on the myth of Prometheus through the eyes of an eight-year-old Druze child from Baadarane.
Written by Nadim Chammas and Samah El Kadi, the film stars Karim Hani, Mounir Malaeb, and Adham Boukaroum. It is lensed by Lluis Ferrer and Marcel Pascual, edited by Gerard Daccache and Nicolas Khoury, with sound design by Tony Khoury. The film is produced by Darine Hotait and Hanna Atala (Cinephilia and Route 243), and supported by Frederic Ephrem at The Filmhouse MENA, and distributed worldwide by MADWorld.
Samah El Kadi is a Lebanese director and screenwriter. A graduate of the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles, El Kadi has directed several short films and commercial work for clients including Samsung, Tesla, and Vodafone.He was recently part of the International Emmy-nominated series Stardust, produced by Shahid’s acclaimed 6:07 series. His upcoming projects include the short films Ghostland and Baadarane, as well as his debut feature The Olive Press, currently in development.
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