SEA SALT

Student Film

Leila Basma |

Czech Republic |

2023 |

18Min |

Arabic

16 PS

Synopsis

On a sweltering summer day on the southern seaside of Lebanon, 17-year-old Nayla is faced with the same dilemma every Lebanese youngster is faced with today – to leave or to stay. Two men in her life have set ideas about it, but both might wake up to a surprise. Each alternative presented to her has its own challenges and promises of happiness. Should she join the growing number of emigrants who leave Beirut or can she find fulfilment in her country of birth. As summer draws to a close, Nayla, is experiencing her first taste of independence and has life-changing decisions to make.

Director

Leila Basma

Producer

Natália Pavlove

Cinematographer

Zaher Jureidini

Screenplay

Leila Basma

Principal Cast

Nathalie Issa, Farid Shawki, Georges Matar, Hiba Chihane, Rabih Abdo

Screenings

22 July 17:00 Suncoast 7

25 July 17:30 Gateway 8

Student Package 1

10-12 PG

AN ORDINARY DAY

16 L N S

BORROWED HANDS

DAISY

13 DL

DON’T LET GO

Leila Basma

Leila Basma is a Lebanese filmmaker and photographer based between Beirut and Prague. She holds a BA in audio-visual Arts from IESAV at the Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, and an MFA in Film Directing at FAMU in Prague. Through her work, she tries to explore the themes of society, youth, womanhood, and identity. Her second-year short documentary The Adam Basma Project was short-listed for the 48th annual Student Academy Awards (the student Oscars) after touring various international documentary film festivals. Her photography work has been exhibited in various galleries in Beirut and Prague and she is currently developing her first feature documentary Dance with Me.