Zayn Alexandre Explained
| Zayn Alexandre |
| Birth Place: | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Occupation: | Director, Actor |
| Years Active: | 2012 - present |
Zayn Alexandre (aka Zayn Alexander) is a Lebanese American film director and actor based in New York City.[1] He is known for his work on the short films Abroad and Manara.
Early life
Zayn was born and raised in Lebanon.[2] Zayn studied psychology at the American University of Beirut and left for the United States to pursue acting in 2010.[3]
Career
In New York City, Zayn met fellow actor, Pascale Seigneurie, who would soon become a frequent collaborator. The two paired up to create Abroad, a film about a Lebanese couple pursuing their acting dreams in America and struggling with being typecast in Middle Eastern roles. Seigneurie wrote the short film, Zayn directed.[4] The film was shot in one day.[5] It debuted at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2018.[6] [7] [8] The Moise A. Khayrallah Center has awarded Zayn and Abroad The 2020 Khayrallah Art Prize.[9] [10]
In 2019, and Seigneurie followed up with Manara, a short film about a Lebanese funeral and a family coping with the cultural pressures of Lebanese society. Manara was filmed in Tyre, Lebanon.[11] It debuted during the 76th Venice International Film Festival in September 2019.
A new short film titled Saint Rose is set to be released in 2024,[12] which has been selected to compete in the Shorts Competition at the Red Sea International Film Festival.[13] The film continues Alexandre's exploration of cultural and societal themes, telling the story of a woman striving to escape a stifling marriage imposed by a conservative society.[14]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Actor | Role | Writer | Director | Notes |
|---|
| 2018 | Abroad | | Jad | | | Short film |
| 2019 | Manara | | Rami | | | Short film |
| 2024 | Saint Rose | | | | | Short film | |
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Zayn Alexander, comédien et metteur en scène libanais à New York. L'Orient-Le Jour. 25 September 2018. 10 January 2020.
- Web site: Zayn Alexander, loin mais si proche du Liban. Colette. Khalaf. Lorient Le Jour. 11 July 2019. 10 January 2020.
- Web site: 'Manara' sheds light on problems in Lebanese culture. The National. James. Mottram. 24 October 2019. 10 January 2020.
- Web site: Rached . Nayla . 14 September 2018 . 'ABROAD' DE ZAYN ALEXANDER : UNE QUESTION DE CHOIX . 10 January 2020 . Agenda Culturel.
- Web site: 7 August 2018 . A Middle-Eastern Actor Couple Try to Navigate the Pressures of Relationships, Family & Typecasting in 'Abroad' . 10 January 2020 . Directors Notes.
- Web site: Hixon . Michael . 9 February 2018 . Santa Barbara International Film Festival celebrates stars and independent filmmakers . 10 January 2020 . The Beach Reporter.
- Web site: Hipes . Patrick . 17 January 2018 . Santa Barbara Film Festival Lineup Unveiled . 10 January 2020 . Deadline.
- Web site: Marotta . Jenna . 17 January 2018 . Santa Barbara Film Festival Announces 2018 Slate, Will Open with Emilio Estevez's 'the public' . 10 January 2020 . IndieWire.
- Web site: 2021-03-03 . Two winners announced as US university celebrates Arab art with Khayrallah Prize . 2021-03-05 . Arab News . en.
- Web site: Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies - NC State . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109102852/https://lebanesestudies.ncsu.edu/awards/artprize2020.php . 2023-01-09 . 2021-03-05 . lebanesestudies.ncsu.edu . en.
- Web site: Codrai . Lorna . 26 February 2020 . Manara: Highlights Lebanon's Increasing Mental Health Crisis . 28 February 2020 . Film Inquiry.
- Web site: 2024-10-22 . Fragments of Life, Saint Rose & more: The Red Sea International Film Festival announces shorts for 2024 edition . 2024-10-22 . Firstpost . en-us.
- Web site: Red Sea International Film Festival Shows 2024 Lineup for Arab Shorts . 2024-10-22 . SecneNow.
- Web site: Kotzathanasis . Panos . 2024-10-19 . The Red Sea International Film Festival Announces Shorts For 2024 Edition . 2024-10-22 . Asian Movie Pulse . en-US.
